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(Lander, WY) – I was taken aback to see negative campaigning infiltrate the Lander school board race this election cycle, especially since school board positions are non-partisan. This means that values such as conservative, liberal, moderate, or libertarian should not influence the focus of the school board. The primary concern should be the effective functioning of our local schools and the best interests of our students’ learning.
This year, the Families for Fremont 1 PAC has adopted an unfortunate approach to campaigning. Instead of highlighting the positive attributes and qualifications of their own candidates, they have resorted to spreading misleading information about their opponents, claiming they are tied to some sort of national agenda, when in reality they are locally loved and well-qualified educators. One example of this is the recent inflammatory door hanger.
I prefer to see a campaign focused on sharing substantive information about each candidate’s vision for collaborating with district staff to enhance teacher retention, support student achievement, and foster a positive, inclusive community environment.
Our goal should be to build a team-oriented approach rather than allowing negativity and bullying to overshadow the important work of our school board. Let’s find constructive solutions and genuine commitment to our students’ success. I, for one, want to support candidates based on their strengths, rather than their ability to tear down others.
By Caryn Talbot Throop,
Lander, Wyoming