Are better qualified school board members needed?

TO THE EDITOR:

There has been great consternation between Morganton’s local newspaper, The Paper, and the Burke County Board of Education concerning what appears to be miscommunication by the board’s members.

For those who recall other controversies surrounding the county’s previous board members in decades past, such a controversy is the rule and not the exception. Such an issue should concern parents and students of all political backgrounds.

The board attempted to backtrack on comments that alluded to possible streamlining of operations and, more specifically, budget cuts.

Understandably, The Paper inquired about whether this translated to teacher position cuts, which could devastate a county whose citizens are already under great pressure from cost-of-living.

The board’s decision to revoke “special access” to local media on their decision to report on potential cuts is, unequivocally, a direct attack on the outlet’s 1st Amendment rights.

Board members and Superintendent Swan have attempted to clarify their standing on this issue, namely on what strained budgets mean for teachers going forward.

Of course, this implies more students per classroom, consolidated positions and resources, and “hard conversations” are likely ahead.

You don’t have to be a genius to understand what this likely means: teachers should expect to face less favorable student-teacher ratios and less resources to do their job.

When initially running for a board seat, some members claimed the only true qualification for the job is “to be a citizen.”

Moving forward, electing new board members who are actually qualified might be an alternative to this easily avoidable mess.

COLBY D. CARR