DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997                 TAG: 9704040016

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  148 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - NORTH CAROLINA

I am appalled at the recent report of Board of Education Chairwoman Donna Buxton going unannounced to the First Flight Middle School and confronting teacher Christy Hodges in front of her class. This was totally inappropriate. No Board of Education member should ever reprimand or question a teacher or staff member directly. There are appropriate channels to use when a situation or event arises in a school which would apply to a Board of Education member, an elected official or a private citizen like myself. And that is to contact Superintendent Leon Holleman who, if he feels there is merit to the complaint or inquiry, would investigate. At the very least, contact could be made with the respective school's principal.

If I, as a private citizen, had tried the same thing Mrs. Buxton did, I'm sure I would have been asked to leave by school authorities. If I had refused to do so, I'm sure the police would have been called. A Board of Education member has no more right than I do to go into a classroom and question or ``correct'' what is being taught or the method of doing so. I question if Mrs. Buxton understands her role and responsibilities as a member of the Board of Education.

I also am disturbed that it appears that Mrs. Buxton acted on her own rather than as a result of a meeting of the Board of Education. It appears that Susie Walters also made contact on her own with Principal Sandy Brooks and later with Holleman. This was the more appropriate route. But was she acting as a private citizen or as a member of the Board of Education?

Does this mean that we could have seven members of the Board of Education each acting independently trying to meddle in the operation of the schools, dictating academic content and questioning teaching abilities and methods? This type of behavior must not be allowed.

Members of the Board of Education should stay out of the classrooms unless they have made prior arrangements for a specific legitimate purpose.

Mrs. Buxton was quoted as saying the matter had been blown out of proportion.

If anything, much more attention needs to be brought to bear on this disgraceful incident. Mrs. Buxton needs to admit that she made a mistake and make a public apology to all teachers in Dare County and an apology to Mrs. Hodges and her class in front of the class. If she declines to do so, then I hope that she has the maturity and grace to quietly resign her elected position and let the matter die quietly.

Further, I find it distasteful that information on the bond issue is being sent home via students. This is also inappropriate. There are much better avenues to disseminate information such as public meetings and the media.

Unfortunately, the bond issue has become very emotional. Let us all remember that our goal is to provide quality education for all children of Dare County.

Carole Lublow

Nags Head Incident at First Flight Middle School was eye-opening

I hope that the recent incident at the First Flight Middle School has opened your eyes as to how the school board is using strong handed tactics regarding the bond issue. I also hope you realize that this is not just an isolated incident. These things are happening on nearly a daily basis.

Also, it is just not our teachers who are being threatened.

We as citizens have tried to convince you that our teachers were being threatened with their jobs if they spoke out against this bond. None of these previous incidents could be proven as they were usually one-on-one confrontations with no other witnesses. Now you have proof of what is really happening. These threats also have been made on citizens.

The passing out of flyers in support of the bond on school property and being sent home with our children, if not illegal, is at least unethical. Our children should not be used as vehicles in passing out information on this issue. They should not be put in the middle.

These are just a few of the many reasons the people of Dare County want you as commissioners to assure us that if we vote ``No'' for this bond that our school needs will be taken care of. When Mr. Burrus gets up at a public meeting and states that he does not trust any of the commissioners except for one, that just goes to show you what he thinks of you! I assume the rest of the school board has the same attitudes.

Please make a statement and let the people of Dare County know that these intimidation tactics will not be tolerated. Making a statement that our school needs will be met if this fails will not influence how the people will vote. It will just assure them that they can't be intimidated into voting for something that they are against. When Mr. Burrus states to a group of people that they had better vote for this bond or they will not get anything in the future, it is not only a threat - but a lie. This issue will either pass or fail on its own merits, and you making a statement to the effect that our needs will be met to the best of your abilities if it fails will have no effect on it.

Many people of Dare County who are opposed to this bond are putting business interests, friendships and money on the line by standing up for something that they believe is not good for Dare County. Intimidation is not good! All I ask is that you also take a stand.

Joseph Farrow Jr.

Buxton School board member's action sets dangerous precedent

The inability to present non-conflicting tax costs to taxpayers on the proposed school bond is bad enough.

Board of Education Chairperson Donna Buxton's, direct personal interference in the classroom activities is a dangerous precedent which demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the governmental process, an elected official's duties, responsibilities and leadership role.

Until this incident I had been undecided about the bond. I am no longer. Such irresponsibility casts grave doubts about the competency of the decisions.

She will not receive my votes on the bond or re-election to the school board. She should be recalled.

Ward McCreedy

Kitty Hawk Buxton's actions exceeded her rights

Since when do the elected school board members have the right to enter the classroom and put a teacher down by telling the students that only she had the right information?

We residents of Dare County can be proud of our school system. But what has happened in this incident at First Flight Middle School has just given the public one more reason to have the bond issue defeated.

School board chair Donna Buxton said she was giving the students accurate information. Why were we, the public, not given just the plain and simple information when questions were asked of her and others at the joint meeting with the county commissioners?

Scripture teaches us that before we embark on a project we should sit down and count the cost. That has not been done on this bond issue. We in the public deserve to know what the total operations costs of the new school will be. The school board wants a school. But school board members cannot tell us the content of the curriculum that will be taught under this expanded new system. The number of new teachers that would be required once the new school is built defies all logic or common sense - and most of the public does not buy it.

This is the first school district that I ever heard of that called on the taxpayers to finance roof repairs, etc. through a bond issue unless there was a natural disaster. I have paid taxes in Dare County since 1987 and have heard of leaky roofs in the schools over in Manteo and in Hatteras for a number of years.

I feel we ought to give this board a serious look, as well as the superintendent, and demand answers as to why maintenance of the existing buildings was not taken care of as the needs arose. How a school got to the state of disrepair that it has, with over 100 leaks and nothing being done, is beyond all reason. We need a responsible school board that takes care of problems as they arise.

We need a school board that takes care of the physical plant and leaves the teaching to the teachers - without intimidation.

I feel the school board members have the answers to the questions the people want to hear but are withholding that information. If they don't have the answers the people want, then I believe they prematurely brought the issue before the people.

This is very similar to what happened to the county commissioner's government complex project and the people rose up and objected until the project was dropped before placing it on the ballot.

John Strauss

Kill Devil Hills

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