PYP: Let the light shine through

Thanks to Tom Hearn for drawing back the curtain and shedding light on the current tactics and agenda of the Coeur d’Alene school board (My Turn, Oct. 13). Unelected members of this board seem intent on cloning themselves and narrowing the educational options for our kids. The board talks about wanting the best for our kids and then cuts some of the most successful programs in the district (IB/PYP).

At public interviews of candidates to fill a recent vacancy on the board, the board praised the hard work and years of service that most of the applicants had on their resumes. One applicant worked for years as a school volunteer, another attended every board meeting for two years. All but one candidate had children in the district. So after weighing all the pros and cons of the applicants, the board selected the only person who had never attended a school board meeting, the only person who had never had a student attend a school in the district, the only person who has been in the community for less than two years.

Those paying attention will notice a subtle difference between what this board says and what it does.

STEVE SHARP

Coeur d’Alene