Recently, I have had occasion to visit some of our schools in RE-2, and I have been impressed.

Most of our teachers are loving, kind and considerate of our children and their needs. They are devoted to teaching lessons and values that will help them succeed in life.

There are, the very few, but radical and vocal minority who want to put forth their agendas rather than the children’s best interests, but our new school board has brought most of them to heel.

We are blessed to have a man of integrity, Superintendent Dr. Mathew Neal, whose focus is on healing the wounds that are obvious to all but the most radical dissenters. A gentle, loving, no nonsense man feared and respected because of his personal moral values, his work ethic, his dedication and love for children and their educational success.

The changes we voted

for are being implemented, too slowly for some who want to take a hammer and sickle to destroy the existing structure and rebuild it in their own image. Too fast for others who feel lost and fear new challenges, the “go along to get along types.”

But for most of us the changes are well thought out and judiciously applied.

Parents will have various school choices and educational processes, with new agendas, goals and values. Each of the choices will influence the others and the best one will survive.

It took a new school board with new leadership to implement the changes taking place. The old system had failed us and with many sacrifices, parents walked away.

I would encourage parents to reevaluate their choice and return to WP schools, but only if you are willing to accept your responsibility to hold the schools accountable.

There are many problems with schools in the rest of the nation, but here in Woodland Park we have turned around or stopped programs that advocate unnatural behaviors or radical policies, and we have instituted changes that focus on our children, not radical agendas, government dictates or the national unions … frankly our local union is pretty good and their leaders share our concerns.

Only responsible parents can keep these changes in place. Government in education is the enemy of education.

Keith Mckim, Florissant