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Letter to the Editor: Time for unity, thanks


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Time for unity, thanks

Following the 2012 elections I wrote a letter to Clay Today requesting the citizens, for the good of the schools, support their newly elected Superintendent of Schools, Charlie Van Zant Jr.

While 2012 was a very divisive election year in local education politics, the four years since then have been much worse and in this year’s August election the voters decided they wanted a new Superintendent of Schools.

I therefor make the same appeal to the citizens as I did four years ago, support your new Superintendent of Schools and the new members to the School Board. We have a much better chance of improving education by working together than in continuing to engage in the political conflict that has defined Clay County education.

I would also like to recognize outgoing Superintendent Van Zant for his many years of service to Clay County Schools.

While I and many others have been critical of him, it must be admitted that Superintendent of Schools is a very difficult job. I remember when he was first elected telling him, as a joke, “make sure you do not destroy the schools.” The fact is that while legitimate criticisms may be made, Clay Schools have largely stayed competitive and have in no way failed. Many counties wish they had a school system as good as ours.

It should also be recognized that Charlie Van Zant could have played it safe and stayed on the School Board where he had served for 14 years prior to running for superintendent. He said as much during a school board meeting years ago, stating his belief that he could be reelected to school board for the rest of his life if he chose to do so. Instead, he went for the much for difficult position of superintendent of schools.

Despite all of the conflict, I believe Charlie Van Zant deserves honorable recognition for 18 years of service in school leadership.

Now it is a new day and soon new leaders will be seated as school leaders. We need to learn from our past and decide how to go forward. If we keep doing as we have for the last several years, dragging each other through the mud for political gain, then we will continue to suffer the negative effects of politicizing the education system.

We can instead choose to work together for the good of Clay County Schools.

Travis Christensen

Lake Asbury

Editor’s Note:

Addison Davis, winner of the superintendent’s race in the Aug. 30 Republican primary, faces Rebekah Shively, who is running with no party affiliation, in the Nov. 8 general election.