School Board member Art Johnston's opinion piece in the Sept. 21 News Tribune was full of inappropriate comments about Superintendent Keith Dixon and School Board Chairman Tim Grover, as well as the process used to settle the teachers' contract. Other statements in Johnston's column were hyperbolic and uninformed. Johnston claimed the present leadership is lacking in "openness, transparency, integrity and accountability."
I have found the opposite to be true as an observer of the current board meetings. Both the superintendent and board chairman have been, if anything, restrained in their demeanor, given the constant harangues from Johnston during meetings.
In addition, I have experienced firsthand the results of the Red Plan building project. It has been literally in my back yard all summer and we at my house have endured the noise, dust, inconvenience and loss of privacy. We support the Red Plan in spite of this.
I have only compliments for the work crew, project managers, architects and administration during this process. The work crew accorded us care and concern as it was digging up the area near our yard and cutting down the beloved trees that have long separated our yard from a parking lot. If we had a question, it was answered. If we had a concern, it was dealt with.
School district Facilities Director Kerry Leider has been effective and efficient in dealing with our concerns. He showed up at our house in the early morning or sometimes after dark to address concerns. It is not perfect and our privacy is still compromised. But over time, we know the situation will improve. We have found Leider and the others involved to be competent, open, transparent, accountable and full of integrity.
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Joan Peterson
Duluth
The writer was a School Board member from 1987 to 1991.
