Thank you, school board candidates, for your courage

To all the candidates who attended the Thermopolis School Board Candidate Forum hosted by the Republican Party: “Thank you for your courage to come and answer the questions asked of you.”

The position of school board trustee is incredibly important to our schools, our teachers, our students and our community. This forum provided a very public opportunity in regard to where each candidate stood on various subjects. Sometimes these forums ask questions that may cause frustration or may cause people to be uncomfortable.

However, the goal was to bring to the community an open opportunity for serious discussion of ideas that manifest as either bias or partisanship. The public was able to observe those who displayed the ability to thoughtfully work through potential issues that may arise within our schools, as well as those who chose not to provide input. Yes, the position of school board trustee is supposed to be nonpartisan. Yet each candidate brings their political bias which does affect how decisions are addressed and resolved within the school system.

The Hot Springs County Republican forum provided the opportunity to observe those running for school board trustee in order to seek the most qualified candidates that closely follow conservative values. We can all agree that our children’s future is at stake and those who are elected as school board trustees will be influential in the preservation of the principles upon which this country was founded.

Del and Janet Shaver