Letters to the Editor

As board chairman for STARRS.US, an organization battling the leftist indoctrination of our military, it is easy to see the similarities between what is happening in our military with what is occurring in education. Only 26% of Americans today (lowest score ever) trust public schools, according to a Gallup Poll.

The “Great Schools Initiative” lists likely causes: “concerns about the quality of education” and “rogue sex-ed.” Parents do not believe public schools are preparing students for college/workforce, and “There have been increasing clashes due to unwanted Sex-Education, purposeful denial of parental rights in matters of student gender identity, …” 

Summit School District is not immune to these concerns.

Unfortunately, the district’s accreditation score sunk from 81.5% in 2014 to 56% in 21-22. The district’s education board is downplaying these abysmal scores and putting their eggs in the “equity/social justice” basket. They just eliminated three academic officers and hired multiple equity officers who are nonsensically charged with transforming the district into a school that turns out “curious” and “courageous” graduates. Academics seem clearly an afterthought. 

Many residents spoke and presented a petition (now with over 2,000 signatures) at a January board meeting against LGBTQ curriculum in K-5. All said they supported this community but wanted to exercise their parental rights to introduce their 4-11 year olds to gender/sex when they (the parents) thought it was appropriate. These concerns fell on deaf ears, and a resolution was unanimously adopted without any debate about parental rights.

How should the district gain back trust? Easy. Focus all resources on basic academics. Start age-appropriate sex-ed in middle school. Teach basic respect and kindness for all. Ditch the Marxist-based indoctrination.

This is what parents expect when they turn over their children to the school each morning. Nothing is gained by devaluing academic achievement, pushing controversial social issues and ignoring parental rights!