LETTERS: JACKSON CONCERNS MEANS A 'NO' VOTE

To the editor:

I will not be voting for the tax increase in the Jackson School District bond election on April 4. I cannot and will not support a school board that purchased 16 acres of land for $326,000 before getting input from the community, before having a long-term plan and before seeking advice from a professional financial planner. I cannot support giving any additional money to this board, which purchased a 2.5-acre lot across the street from the football field's scoreboard for $90,000 yet has no long-term plan for our high school.

I cannot consciously vote to give this school board power over our district's $23 million budget when, in my opinion, it has put into question the ethics of our district's hiring practices. How can we assure fair hiring practices and equal employment opportunity in our schools when six of seven board members have eight children or spouses working under them? The voting decisions of this board on issues of salary and benefits have a direct effect on members' own personal household income and the household income of their children. Employment of family members to this extent is problematic where situations can create conflict of interest, an appearance of favoritism and increased potential for a hostile work environment.

This type of environment, on top of the previous history of spending, creates distrust. A recent article in the Southeast Missourian quoted Steve Doerr, Perryville's superintendent of schools: "At the lowest level of government, you should have the most trust."

STUART VENABLE

Jackson