LAKELAND BOARD: A severe lack of foresight

It’s been made very clear on several occasions now that the majority of the Lakeland school board does not respect the teachers who work tirelessly in the district, the patrons of the community, and the students that this all ultimately affects. The failure of the levy was a blow to the community, but what’s even more troubling is the complete lack of a coherent response from the board in the two months that have followed. Instead of working diligently to address the funding gap and come up with a clear plan to rectify the situation, the board has done everything except take meaningful action. I’ve attended several board meetings where they have managed to insult teachers while questioning their qualifications, blamed district staff for not giving them information that was right in front of their faces, and analyzed every meaningless line item of the budget without making any sort of concrete decisions.

In any district facing such a critical vote, it should have been expected that the board would already have a contingency plan in place — one that would address both the immediate fallout and long-term ramifications. The lack of preparedness not only shows a severe lack of foresight but also raises serious questions about the board’s true commitment to the district’s well-being. The community deserves better than this, and the students deserve a board that is willing to put their needs first. If things continue on this path, it’s not just the teachers and students who will be hurt, but the future of the entire community.

COLLEEN ATTEBURY

Spirit Lake