At-large voting a cause for alarm

To the Editor:

Re “Don’t fall for at-large school board balloting,” the letter from former school superintendents Leon Campo and Frank Saracino that was published in the April 12-18 issue:

I am a longtime resident, voter, taxpayer and supporter of our schools. I have served on various committees, the PTA and PTA Council, and participated in focus groups as part of school board community outreach. Never has there been a “surprise” ballot proposition placed before the voters. Throughout our history, the public has been included, and made fully aware of the costs and benefits associated with ballot propositions that greatly impact residents and parents, who pay taxes, and ultimately our children.

This Board of Education, in its pursuit of at-large voting, which is very easily manipulated and dilutes the impact of every voter, made certain that the public was excluded. No committee or focus group was established to research the matter. The community wasn’t even given sufficient notice that such an important issue would come before the board. I was the only resident present at the board’s work session on March 22, and I was truly caught off guard, because I had never seen anything like this take place before.

Last year, our school district overwhelmingly passed a major school/library bond issue. The work to develop it and share the costs and benefits took over a year. Every corner of the community was included. If community members had been excluded, would the referendum have been successful? Probably not.

This Board of Education has promised complete transparency, but the vote taken at the March 22 public work session did not include the entire board, and there was no time for research or debate before the vote was taken. The board should not be viewed as a “club,” but rather as a group that adheres to state education law and school board policies. Trustees must be accountable to the public. In my opinion, designated-seat voting holds everyone accountable. We’ve had a history of inclusiveness — let’s keep it that way.

Helen Meittinis

Salisbury