Dear editor:
Something about this entire situation at Jessieville wreaks wrong, Ms. President. I really am not knowledgeable about legal matters. However, it seems to me that you have made major blunders in the handling of Jessieville School affairs.
First of all, I would like to know why you did not challenge the former superintendent, Andy Curry, to try and deny him the excessive benefit package which he received. How can you be sure that, if this had become a legal battle with Mr. Curry having to hire an attorney, that he would have won this lottery? Even if he did beat the contract issue, would he have been given a new truck and a computer? Really now!
It seems to me that you have fought this entire community and school battle "for" the superintendent. Why did you not fight for the patrons who elected you to be their voice? The recent article in the newspaper quoted your attorney as saying that the truck was not needed or wanted. Why was it bought during his tenure, then? I would also like to know if you, as a business woman, would be so quick to pay a claim without having a thorough investigation into the matter and then waiting for all the results to be finalized. I doubt that you would do that with your own business.
Schools are businesses, Ms. President, and the personnel in charge of the school's money need to be much wiser in their use of it. As far as the outstanding job that the former superintendent has done, well that is what he got well paid to do. That is certainly not justification for what he has done to the school and to this community with his throwing stones and damaging good people.
I think it is time, Ms. President, for you and the other three remaining members who have followed your lead down this path of foolish decision-making, to step down and let a new voice be heard.
Reda McFarland
Hot Springs
Editorial on 08/27/2014