I stand with school board member Hansen

Submitted by Carrie I. Peters
Posted 1/6/22

Dear Editor:

In response to the Jan. 4 article about the school board censuring Trustee Don Hansen, I won’t pretend that I know everything that is going on since I am not a board member, but …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

I stand with school board member Hansen

Posted

Dear Editor:

In response to the Jan. 4 article about the school board censuring Trustee Don Hansen, I won’t pretend that I know everything that is going on since I am not a board member, but I do know this: The school board is not meant to be a place where everyone agrees for the sake of having a unified front. It is not a place to hold hands and always “work as a single board.”

Trustee Hansen has faithfully represented the folks who voted for him to be on the school board. Dissent and disagreement are healthy and keep boards, organizations, and people honest and open-minded. I have served on boards and know how hard it can be to disagree with the majority — kudos to Don for asking questions and not being silent.

When I emailed the school board members about an issue last year, Don was one who promptly returned my email and acknowledged my concerns. There are several current trustees who didn’t even take the time to reply to my email. Is that fulfilling the job of a board member? I think not. 

The school kids and staff were forced to wear masks for the majority of last year, but most of the board members and the superintendent didn’t (and still won’t) even have the courtesy of wearing masks during their board meetings to help protect an at-risk and immunocompromised colleague? If that doesn’t make you question what’s really happening within the school board, then I don’t know what will. As for me, I stand with Don Hansen.

Sincerely,

Carrie I. Peters

Powell

Comments