Letters to the editor on Wichita School Board members and masks, climate change bills

School board

As a former public servant and a woman I am responding to the actions, or rather the inactions, of the three newly elected USD 259 Board of Director members.

The three women chose not to wear face masks at the Jan. 10 meeting — their first meeting. They chose not to respect their colleagues or the request of board Chairman Stan Reeser to mask up. They chose not to follow the masking guidelines that all USD 259 students, teachers, administrators and workers follow.

Shame on you Diane Albert, Kathy Bond, Hazel Stabler. Shame on you for not being representatives of our children. Shame on you for putting your politics before the public good and just for those who voted for you

Shame on you for being poor role models for our children and for setting a bad tone for your tenure as elected public servants. Your behavior is a slap in the face not only to your colleagues but to every student and teacher in the district.

As mayor, I didn’t always agree with my colleagues on issues and yet we were respectful to one another. My decision making was guided by what was in the best interests of the public I served. As a woman, I expected more of you. I hoped you would bring maturity and not malice to your roles on the board. I had hoped you would be a healing balm in this pandemic nightmare we are all living. But you did not. You still can.

Climate change

Democrats in Congress have a lot to sort out between themselves if they’re going to enact legislation that will halt the heat of severe global warming. The Build Back Better Act will almost certainly address climate change as the most comprehensive US climate legislation yet, but which provisions will make the cut remain to be seen.

Economists say the most cost-effective means of addressing climate change is through a price on carbon, making intensive products and choices more expensive. To buffer the rising cost of living that would result, the revenues can be rebated to citizens so that our cost of living doesn’t change, but our behaviors (and more importantly, the decisions of businesses and organizations) will. A scheme like this is what I most hope to see in BBB.

However, I’m equally excited for some bipartisan climate legislation in Congress right now – the Growing Climate Solutions Act and the FOREST Act each have significant support on both sides of the aisle, and I believe they’re going to be among the best work America does to help stem the (rising) tide of climate disasters. They’re good bills that I suggest you read, and perhaps write Congress to support.

Mask mandate

I understand that our newly elected BOE members may not be aware of the processes available to them. If they disagree with the current BOE mask mandate, the process is to raise the issue and call for a new vote to change the policy. To do otherwise is disruptive and divisive behavior at a time when addressing the current challenges is most effective when honest dialog, compromise and cooperation are the spirit of the hour.