Herald readers provide opposing views on Richland School Board recall | Opinion
Recall about trust, not about politics
The vote in August regarding the potential recall of three Richland School Board directors is important. Whatever side you are on — Vote!
Remember as you make your decision:
This is not political. It is about elected officials in place who we can trust. A Superior Court judge and the State Supreme Court found that the charges against the board members were “factually and legally sufficient” for the recall to go forward.
This is not about masks. That decision was made by the governor, who had the authority, and any disagreement should have been directed to him. The local school board’s authority does not supersede the governor’s authority.
This is not about operating with good intentions. It is about elected officials’ duty and obligation to follow the laws and the rules. Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud pointed out that the school board members went forward with their no-mask decision after being advised by several attorneys that they did not have the authority to do so.
Also, three of the school board candidates are endorsed by the Benton County Republican Party. The chairman of the Benton County Republican Party is Semi Bird.
Vote — but with your eyes wide open.
Pamela Hall, West Richland
Recall try wrong, reader insists
As wrong as their vote was to blow off the governor’s COVID-19 masking requirement, I am not voting for recall of the Richland School Board members. Why? Because I don’t want replacements on the board that the recall people hope for. I believe they will re-establish the misplaced priorities of the 2020 board that showed little concern for how well students were handling COVID restrictions.
2020 board meeting minutes leading up to the August 2020 decision to shut down schools for most of 2020-2021 show no discussion on how well students learned virtually during the 2020 spring closure. Though well known by summer 2020 that COVID had limited health impact on children, minutes show no indication this was considered before the closure decision, nor was there consideration of how virtual learning affects students lacking home environments supportive of such learning. The shutdown decision appears to have been based on prioritizing staff safety over student learning.
Lest anyone think I have a reckless disregard for safety, my disregard is no more than the governor had for the safety of adults operating “essential businesses,” such as grocery stores during that time. Keeping schools open should have been considered essential. It wasn’t.
Richard Engelmann, Richland
Journalists need to be paid as well
Even though I no longer live in the Tri-Cities, I still subscribe to the Tri-City Herald because I want to keep up with everything happening in this part of Washington. I marvel at all of the entitled, whiny online brats who complain about having to pay to read online content.
They act as if newspapers should rely solely on online advertising, which is about one thousandth of a cent per article. Each reporter would earn about $10 a week in salary. I wish publications would give an option allowing people to read online without paying, but the person must acknowledge that they are a cheapskate who doesn’t believe that journalists should get paid for their work.
Ryan Cooper, Lynwood
Letters Policy
The Tri-City Herald welcomes letters up to 200 words and the best way to submit them is through our website. The Herald reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length, and letter writers are limited to one letter published every 30 days. The deadline for letters about the August primary election is July 25.