I was reading last week’s guest column when I realized someone’s research on curricula led them to believe that the American Birthright standards adopted by the WPSD was in fact a new curriculum. Or, that the implementation of those new standards had any influence from our school board directors. I think stating actual facts is not only fair but necessary in a world fueled by politically driven misinformation. Here are the facts:

• On January 11th 2023, the school board approved the American Birthright standards just days after the resolution was made public, without educator input or results-driven research.

• Only weeks later, a book was pulled from an elective class only available to juniors and seniors due to it “not aligning with ABS.” Those standards were not to be in effect until the 2024-2025 school year.

• In 2023 the district budget was so badly managed that when it was finally independently audited in 2025 it received a qualified opinion with 34 conditions (a total of 12 conditions is considered alarming).

• Just days prior to the audit being released, the superintendent praised for his administrative work, Ken Witt, resigned. The school board allowed him to walk away from the chaos he created, not only financially but within community relations and trust.

• To quote last week’s guest column: “These board members are the heroes, not the villains that our local social media portrays.“

Forfeit what we’ve gained?

From budget reviews since 2020, legal expenses have drastically increased from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Does this sound like the work of “Conservatives?”

In 2025, city tax funds to WPSD were cut. The school board’s response was to incur more legal expenses by suing the city.

While being fiscally conservative is important, our current school board scoffed at the millions it received from both local and federal governments all while they closed beloved long-standing schools.

In regards to the American Birthright enactment and increasing test scores, there’s no correlation. It’s proven that it takes at least two years to see results from a new curriculum — first for teachers to adapt lessons, and only later for testing to start reflecting changes. Those standards weren’t in effect until the 2024-2025 school year. TEACHERS spent all summer adjusting curriculum and lessons to fit the new standards, NOT the school board. Time will still tell and we credit it to the teachers, parents, and students for the increases.

Does this sound like an excelling district thanks to partisan school board directors? No. Many teachers and families have fled our district because of sudden policy changes, and loss of popular programs. Many just don’t want to be part of the social experiment taking place in our once quiet mountain town.

Stop listening to those who make education partisan. Elect common sense candidates this November to replace wasteful, politically motivated board members with no accountability. Please don’t let us lose any more. Know when to walk away, know when to run.