Says letter was insulting to no voters

Vox Pop

Dear Pat Sullivan, I am writing in regard to the letter you wrote in the Medford Area Public School District newsletter. I would like to review with you how a “no” voter sees this letter as insulting.

For the benefit of the people that didn’t read or don’t remember what was in your letter, below is the paragraph you wrote, titled Margin of Defeat.

“Let’s start with the fact that the question was narrowly defeated. In November, 6,942 people voted and 3,384 of those people voted “yes.” That means the question was defeated by a mere 174 votes. While there was a slight majority voting “no,” you cannot ignore the large number of people who want to see the needs at the high school be addressed.”

In reference to the above paragraph, I and all no voters take offense to the fact you are referring to us as one of the mere voters and the people who do not want to see the needs of the high school addressed. Since when has a majority been called mere? I thought a majority was the voice of the people speaking. You are not listening to the majority. Referring to the minority as a large number of people who want to see the needs of the high school be addressed is implying the majority of the people don’t want the needs of the high school addressed. Maybe you should ask, not assume why the majority voted no.

It is very obvious that there is a reason the referendum was defeated.

The number one reason is mistrust. To convince or persuade someone of your beliefs you have to build a trusting relationship with the person or people you are trying to persuade. That relationship has not been established between the district administrator, the school board, and the voters. Your past actions and the school board are short of forth coming.

Many expensive decisions were made without input or approval from the people who pay the bills. The first example is the purchase of the residential properties along Hwy 64 next to MAMS. You said the school district had no definite plans to develop the property. It came as no surprise that the homes were eventually torn down and developed.

Another spending spree by you and the school board was the purchase of 23.8 acres of property adjacent to the high school, at a cost of $411,000 or $17,277 per acre. Again, no definite plans were available for the development of the property. The $411,000 land purchase was in March of 2019 without any input from the public. In November of the same year, a Star News article indicated the school board was discussing how to pay for middle school roof repairs and the north parking lot of the elementary school. How can you spend $411,000 without public approval and 8 months later confer about where to get money for much needed repairs of our current facilities?

Decisions were made and money was spent, without consulting the public. These actions did not develop any trust with the public. How can we trust you and the school board with a proposal of $39.9 million when you have a difficult time differentiating between a want and a need?

— Greg Heier, Medford