No wonder letters were sent to the circular file

So much for tired assertions about the School Board’s efforts to get public feedback.

I’m grateful to Loren Martell who has been dismissed as a whiner by the Trib for his crusade to make the letters and emails sent to the Board public and to insist that the School Board be shown them. Evidently Dr. Dixon has bent over backward to show the School Board only the communications that were pro Red Plan as though they were little more than draft horses wearing blinders.

Here’s an email sent to Tim Grover recently and then passed on to all the Board members. Now that the best view of the horses is what Dr. Dixon can see from his carriage the critics can do no harm:

Mr. T. Grover -Duluth School Board Chair
June 25, 2010 JUN 29 2010
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Mr. Grover,

This letter is to inform you ofmy deep disappointment in how you have represented the people of the 3rd District. I and many others have many questions and would appreciate some answers. How do you justify what has been done to our district, our students and our city?

You have allowed us absolutely no voice to speak of in the entire Red Plan process. I believe this to be totally wrong and an injustice to all the tax payers ofthe city ofDuluth. I want you to know I am totally against this plan.

You were elected by us in the 3rd District because during your campaign you led us to believe you would represent us fairly and that you had the best interest ofour students at heart. I would appreciate knowing what you believe you have done for them? They now will have no high school, no junior high, very few elementary schools and their home property values will more than likely decrease due to all of this. Is this what a school
board member is supposed to do for its constituents?

It appears you are fully prepared to tear the very “heart” of our great city out. I hope you will be proud of the part you have played throughout this. It appears as ifyou have no concern for our students, parents or the great tradition that is Central High School. I have one final question. How can you and the board members justify closing our school and then not even including Centrals name in the new high schools? I cannot imagine how you could possibly make us feel any less important.

Sincerely,
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ •

Please distribute to all board members and make this letter public.

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