This letter is for people living in LPOSD Zone 2 and have not yet decided to cast a ballot in the Nov. 2 election. If you lived here 25 years ago, you may remember our school board was stuck on an ideology: a “business model” of public education. Well, that “ideology” gave us constant labor disputes with our teachers, an unlicensed superintendent, uncertain finances, and mediocre academic performance.

But around the turn of the millennium things suddenly changed with the election of new school trustees, who focused on quality education. Since then, we’ve had no labor disputes, three remarkably effective, qualified superintendents, a permanent levy guaranteeing a third of the district’s budget, A-plus financial audits, academic performance that is near the top in the state, and a series of innovative academic programs such as the Homeschool Academy. For the last four years, trustee Gary Suppiger has been part of this sterling performance.

Suppiger’s opponent, Jalon Peters, has an “ideology.” He wants to defund the district by rescinding the permanent levy. He wants to spy on teachers, certain to create labor disputes. He wants to tell qualified superintendents what to teach, such as “a biblical worldview.” With Peters on the board, we will once again lose focus on a quality education, to the detriment of our young people.

So, if you believe, as I do, that high performing schools make great communities, then you’ll make the time to vote for Gary Suppiger on Nov. 2.

BILL BERG

Sagle