LETTERS: CHOOSE CAREFULLY

To the editor:

When we moved our children into the Meadow Heights School District 7 1/2 years ago, we were very pleased to find a positive environment where they could develop without getting lost in the massive numbers of the Farmington School District from which they transferred. They both had attended a private school, and our daughter had attended the public school as well. We were pleased with Meadow Heights.

After Rick Chastain came as our high school principal, we had several occasions to work closely with him in personal matters involving one of our children. We found him to be fair, considerate, honest and very capable in handling some difficult situations, and he was even able to turn them into positive experiences. That not only takes talent, but also compassion and heart. We have also worked with him on curriculum proposals and have found him to be knowledgeable and positive in his approach toward the advancement of the school. In addition, we have found him to be an encourager, academically, in that he sends out letters of commendation to honor-roll students, just to use one example. That is Mr. Chastain: high moral character, an excellent role model for the student body and a professional example to the parents and the community.

In the past we have supported the decisions of the school board. Even though we have had questions from time to time, we had the attitude that the members are elected to their positions by the voters and, therefore, should be entrusted to carry out the responsibilities of their office professionally and above reproach without the interference of demonstrations, petitions or letter-writing campaigns. However, we question the action of dismissing Mr. Chastain and believe it will prove detrimental to the Meadow Heights student body and surrounding community.

We admonish all voters of the Meadow Heights School District to examine closely the candidates for the upcoming election in April. Please vote for the person whom you feel can vote his own mind, independent of choosing sides, and can also separate himself from cliques or personal vendettas and friendships, always placing the betterment of the school and students' education uppermost.

JOHN and SAND SMITH

Patton