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Still Confused

I’m still confused, are you? I understand that these questions have supposedly been answered, and by asking them again, it could perhaps reflect poorly on my own understanding. That said, I’m not afraid to ask questions, and as an educator myself, I firmly believe no question is a bad question, no matter how many times it is asked. I also understand that the decision to close Island Avenue School has already been made; nevertheless, I still have questions.

Why are members of the Board of Education (BOE) quitting? Why isn’t there a rotating system for the BOE? Why does the BOE employ a policy that negates dialogue with the public at the meetings? After all, they are elected officials. Why haven’t some of the BOE’s policies been revised since the 1990s? Why, with the recent referendum, was there a multi-year plan and then, with the results of the vote, suddenly a one-year plan?

Is the Board of Selectmen or the BOE pushing the closure? Can someone own this decision? What will the community impact be when we close the only school close to the center of our town? Why is it that when some of these questions are posed, no one ever offers clear, logical answers? And last, if the teachers and students are the foundation of our school system, why are we forcing fast, tumultuous upheaval?

Laura Milligan

Madison