SPEAKOUT

Story was appreciated

I'D JUST like to commend the Missourian and Heidi Nieland for the great story she wrote about the Meadow Heights school and the growling constantly within the board. I think it was a very constructive contribution.

Board action defended

THANK YOU, Cape Girardeau board member Kathy Swan, for shedding light on your decision on Dr. Clark's contract. I agree with you that was unethical of the gentlemen to disclose the vote before the 72 hours and also majority rules. We have the right to dissent in this country, but as they teach in certified board member training, once the decision is reached, the board needs to support that. Yes, I agree with you folks who supported Dr. Clark. You have to vote on his performance, not on what the coffee shops think is going on.

Thanks for information

THIS IS one voter who wishes to thank Dr. Fox and Steve Wright for coming forward when they did to inform the voters. Thank you very much for busting up this cover up. Thank you very much for letting the voters know in time to vote.

Taxes are a crime

INCOME TAXES in themselves are a crime. If I could get around them I would in a New York minute. If I could leave the country, I would in a New York minute, that is if I had the money in which to leave the country, but the federal government takes all of my money.

Swan doesn't get it

AFTER READING Kathy Swan's statement, it infuriated me that she has no idea what this community wants. It is by far not a minority, it is the majority of our community who is fed up with the arrogance and incompetence of some of our board members and school administrators. She also added that the board members who voted against the contract extension had wives who were teachers. That tells us that our teachers in the school system have lost confidence in the ability of Dr. Clark to run our district. Kathy Swan will know the definition of minority, because she will be the minority on the new school board.

HOW DARE the Cape Girardeau school board think that they can do this to the people of Cape Girardeau. How dare Kathy Swan issue any kind of a statement of why they want to extend the contracts. First she pulls strings so that her daughter's boyfriend can graduate. She mails teachers letters after she gets on the school board to tell them that they get a discount. They use her business. She is using that school board strictly for political and business gain. She needs to resign.

SO YOU school board members want to extend Neyland Clark's contract for another year after he pulled the deals on the credit card. He sent his wife on BART to St. Louis to catch a plane on a credit card. Why would anyone do this on the taxpayers' money when he makes $100,000 dollars a year? He is not to be trusted. Get going, Mr. Clark.

THE RECENT vote to extend Dr. Clark's contract was an obvious insult to the community. The blatant disregard for the opinions of the public they are supposed to represent is unforgivable. However, as bad as that was, to me the most offensive thing to come out of it was Kathy Swan's published statement. Her criticism of Bob Fox and Steven Wright was ridiculous. First, their right to freedom of speech is not superseded by the fact they are on the school board. This country was founded by people who are willing to speak out against the status quo. Secondly, while I'm not a school teacher I was personally offended by her thinly veiled insinuations regarding the fact there spouses are teachers. Their being a teacher certainly does not exclude them from being a citizen of the community nor does it take away their right to an opinion. Also if an administrator lacks the support of his fellow workers, it is indicative of a very serious problem which weakens his ability to lead and points out the divisiveness being created within the school system. I think Kathy Swan owes the two board members as well as all teachers a public apology.

AS A Cape Girardeau school teacher I was very much offended by Kathy Swan's comments regarding the extension of Dr. Clark's contract. She asked if it didn't seem coincidental that the board members opposed to the extension had spouses that are district teachers. Her implication was that somehow Dr. Clark is holding teachers in line and the teachers without him would some how run amuck and give themselves extravagant pay raises. How ridiculous. There is no coincidence, Ms. Swan. It is true that many Cape school teachers no longer support Dr. Clark. It is because he lacks the ability to lead the district in a constructive manner. At this point his continued presence in this district is very destructive. Because we want the best for Cape Girardeau school children and the people of our district, many of us do want Dr. Clark out. May I add we also want Kathy Swan out. Her condescension to teachers and to the people of this school district is unforgivable.