New School Board Member
In response to the Oct. 1 letter regarding a new Estes Park School Board member, there are some corrections that need to be made.
There was an allegation that a person named in that letter called for or mentioned recalling that Board Member. The ONLY mention she made was she hoped to hear from him on his goals since interviews were not conducted (he had been the only candidate). There was no reference to recalls, or even attacking or criticizing the Board Member.
The writer stated that the Voice article reported that this new Board Member wants to start a chapter of Turning Point, USA. She then goes on to claim that the club “is neither a ‘partisan, nor a ‘religious group’ and even if it is, the law allows those so long as it is “not endorsed by the school itself.”
Board members represent the “school” and have the power to hire and fire District staff. You can’t get an example of “the school.” And to claim Turning Point is not partisan is incredible, when millions of its funding comes from right-wing political organizations, has been credited with making Trump’s election victory possible, and has been responsible for vicious attacks on teachers, leading to their firings, harassment, and death threats. Just this week, a Rutgers professor fled to Spain as a result of Turning Point’s actions.
The Board members do have a right to free speech, freedom of religious, and political views and actions, so long as it is NOT in connection with school activities. Endorsing a chapter of this group is a direct violation.
Rebecca Urquhart