requests must be in by the next session of

requests must be in by the next session of the General Assembly which was the April 17th veto session. When I was reminded of this deadline on April 10th, I suddenly realized that the school board’s regular monthly meeting was on the 9th and that they probably voted for it! I then immediately called Dr. Dave Gangel but was told he was in a meeting. This was approximately 3 p.m. on April 10th, and at approximately 6 p.m. I stopped and talked to Mr. Makela, who confirmed my fears. Then I proceeded to spread the news of their action since the paper did not feel it newsworthy enough to mention.

Mr. Makela wants specific objections, but he won’t even read the complete text of the law. It looks like neither the paper nor the School Board want public involvement on this issue as they were completely aware of the deadline, or should have been, and the board held no hearing for public comment. Had Mr. Makela wanted public input for this vote, there are many avenues of receiving it.

I do not believe the voters of Jackson District elected Mr. Makela so that he can read condensed versions of complex laws. Indeed, we could have high praise for the technological advances of Nazi Germany # during World War II by only reading a condensed version of history that failed to mention the millions of innocent civilians that were exterminated in the death camps. I hope the readers see the point here — brevity is not always best.

The heading over Mr. Makela’s letter ways “Support Explained,” but where was the explanation? Mr. Longyear’s letter certainly conveyed many constitutional reasons why he is opposed to it. It’s obvious from Mr. Makela’s condensed explanation and the School Board’s silence on their actions at the April 29th budget hearing that their position is untenable.

Goals 2000 is bad, and the Virginia Education Association supports it since they will receive funding as well as the Association of School Administrators!