Letters 9/29/11

Hullabaloo support

October 7 and 8 will be our annual Autumn Harvest Hullabaloo. It has been growing every year and we want to invite and encourage all to come to the event this year. Many people and organizations have worked hard and volunteered their time to make this a great weekend with something for everyone. It starts Friday afternoon and runs through Saturday.

Colfax Chamber and the Hullabaloo Committee

Colfax Chamber President

Support incumbents

The Colfax School District has been described to me several times over the years in several venues as: One of the last few gems remaining in the state.

What separates one district from another in that way? Parental support, community pride, and participation in school functions always surface. Levy passage and bond history, as well as adults being involved in students education are an indicator. Indeed, we have had an exemplary history despite a temporary stumble when the levy committee believed the Governor’s statements about eliminating levy equalization. Up to date technology and facilities are often a part of the conversation and we fare well on those dimensions. A balanced turnover between the wisdom of experience, and the enthusiasm of young teachers, as well as classified staff are mentioned.

Although that was an issue this fall, both Colfax Education Association and the administration/board have pledged themselves to finding a reasonable solution. What citizens need to understand is that the contract language in question was written into the master agreement at a time the district was not declining in enrollment, and did not have to meet state and federal credential changes or requirements to have a, “Qualified teacher” in every classroom. The definition of qualified has changed significantly over the years, so I was delighted with the recent statements from both sides.

What does come up, however, in every conversation about a gem school district are two items essential in our upcoming elections.

School board stability is the first.

Effective school districts over time have school board members who are supported by their community and serve a minimum of two terms.

School policy and governance are increasingly complex, and the best districts allow their board the necessary learning curve connected with effective performance.

Perhaps even more important is the second.

Board members are allowed time to develop as a working team in providing effective oversight.

Gem districts refrain from candidates who have personal agenda’s for seeking the position, or who come into the position thinking they have the answer.

That typically divides rather than unites, and too often results in individual board members attempting to become involved in the daily management of the district to meet the promises of their agenda.

I have found the current board: Debbie Pearson, Brian Becker, Rob Smith, Laura Johnson, and Kathy Wride to be thoughtful in their questions, considered in their deliberations and open in their thinking, as they struggle with declining enrollment, reduced state funding, and new legislative mandates.

In addition, during their short time together, the board saw the district receive a perfect fiscal audit, increased involvement by community in evaluating senior projects, our Jennings School honored by the state, successful student led conferences, and most recently impressive learning performances as measured by state testing.

Still, as a team they have not had the time together to carry us into the next years with the respect and recognition we have enjoyed in the past.

In serving present and future students it would be most wise to retain all of our incumbents, and a reckless venture on our part to replace any.

Don Cox,

Colfax

Support teachers

This letter is to support the letter written by Roy Moxley in last week’s Gazette. He was asking for more help for “vital services” in our area, and I agree. I am not sure if raising taxes is the answer but I will leave that up to our leadership that we elect to be prudent in their allocations of funds.

I support Todd Vanek for Mayor in hopes that his leadership can bring about a balanced budget, vision, and leadership that we can all be proud of. But I digress.

The local vital services that I feel is suffering the most right now is our school systems county wide.

Cutbacks in school budgets, teaching positions being cut and reductions in teachers salaries are affecting our country’s greatest asset, our children and thus our future.

I have four children and two are in the Colfax elementary school, and I am very impressed with the time and efforts the teachers give to our kids.

Our kids are typically awake from 7 a.m.

to 9 p.m., or 14 hours a day.

That means they spend at least 7 of those hours with their teachers.

Take out time for playing with friends, sports practice, piano, cub scouts, 4H, church activities, ect., and the parents are with the kids maybe 2-3 hours of the day, the bulk from 7-9 p.m.

If our kids are so important and we are trusting these teachers to be there for our kids, shouldn’t we be there for them? Find a teacher of one of your children, or if you are so lucky to have one of your teachers still teaching, and ask what you can do to help.

They need our support now!

Rob Rowland,

Colfax

Back Didier

We have known Jeff Didier for several years now and are blessed to be considered his friends. Jeff will be a refreshing change to City Hall as Mayor. He will not only bring his Colfax business knowledge to the job, but Jeff will relate to us as regular folk and represent our interests to help our community, with honesty and integrity. Please join us and write in Jeff Didier for mayor.

Tom & Peggy Welch,

Colfax