REGAN: You have a big job to do

To Brent Regan:

Appreciate your comeback to us in the Press to clarify your side. Since you are a freshman board member for the second largest employer in Kootenai County I think you have discovered that any time you leave your house you are “in camera.” Your ignorance to the fact that statements made in jest could be construed as racist is a telling lack of sensitivity.

Rather than milling around about guns, God and politics we hope you have enough on your plate with local education. We would prefer to see you make a difference to short and long term educational goals in the CDA School District. There is much work needed and much to get up to speed on I am sure.

Idaho has a hard time attracting educated, progressive or visionary people. Options are limited or costly (for the elite who can afford to travel to Spokane). I hope the school board can look to ALL sectors of the student needs rather than the lowest middle tiers. If we do not train up and go wide these kids will never raise their standard of living or contribute to a better tax base in CDA. They will never be able to afford a home in their own backyard without improved education and income. Shorting on the basics does not get fixed later in life. Too many students in CDA manage to graduate but remain illiterate and unemployable.

The question in high school counselors’ offices should not be “are you going on to college or technical school?” but “where are you going once you graduate?” A high school diploma in today’s world is just not enough for a decent standard of living — anywhere in the USA.

Hope you find the school board enough of a challenge to help us solve big issues of funding, infrastructure and education for the future of all races, all genders and all students.

LYNN M. FLEMING

Coeur d’Alene