Regarding the school board

Let’s get this straight. Mike Schlegel (Somers School board trustee for the last 6 years until last Tuesday night and current county commissioner candidate) was quoted last week in the West Shore News saying he believes our schools’ financial crisis is due to teachers being overpaid and that he finds it offensive to call this budget expense (teacher salaries) ‘education’. He also offered an inaccurate figure when quoting the top salaries of our most experienced teachers. He overstated the amount by $20,000 dollars per year.

It has been disheartening for this writer to hear that some in our community share his disdain for the teaching profession. But more disturbing is that this elected official is unwilling to accept responsibility for an error; in fact, he has denied he ever said it. Matt Naber, WSN reporter, stands by his use of the quotation marks.

I don’t think it is too much to expect that those who are elected to make important decisions on behalf of their communities, be accountable and clear. We want to know what they stand for, what platform/agenda/philosophy they believe in, that they will express their convictions to others in power on behalf of the voters, that they are willing to acknowledge if they make a mistake, and that if they are convinced by others to change their views, they will be able to admit and defend their change of opinion. Let’s keep these expectations in mind as we choose our next county commissioners – who, by the way, will receive more in salary and benefits, irrelevant of their past experience or education, than the highest paid, most educated and experienced teachers in our district.

Tina Jo Lerum,

Lakeside