Letter to the editor
To the editor:
I was surprised at a comment I heard during Monday’s school board meeting from board member Patricia Lawler. The discussion concerned the board’s next meeting agenda, which will include the recognition of some essay contest winners from the middle school.
Ms. Lawler expressed her trepidation that the district staff might have planned to have the children read their essays during the board meeting.
Why not? The board had some children read essays and poems a few weeks ago at the Feb. 12 meeting. I thought the readings added a special meaning to the recognition the students received.
In fact, there should be a special effort to involve students and parents in every regular board meeting. It’s just a few minutes that can help bridge the gap between the complex activities of the board and the success stories we have in our schools.
Perhaps it would encourage more participation from the parents and students in the discussions of the issues affecting them. In addition to the public forum, add a regular student forum with a special effort in the schools to bring the views of the students into the meetings.
I am a parent of two students in the district and now a candidate for one of the three East Windsor seats open on the school board in April. Bringing more parent and student views before the board is a critical point of my candidacy.
I encourage anyone with concerns that they would like to have expressed before the board to contact me by e-mail at [email protected].
Bob Laverty
East Windsor