By Lynn Sturgis Santa Monica
I’m writing in response to articles and letters to the editor regarding the recent SMRR convention and it’s subsequent endorsement of people running for the Board of Education.
It seems to me that the SMRR Steering Committee decided that their agenda of keeping the “status quo” in place on the Board of Education was more important or had more value than letting democracy happen.
Yes, parents of special needs children and their general education friends joined SMRR in the hopes of having a say in the SMRR endorsements. We (myself included) paid our $25 to join, attended the convention, and voted our conscience. Unfortunately, our votes ultimately didn’t matter because the people ‘in charge’ decided we didn’t need to be listened to.
My suggestion is that we all make a concerted effort to have a write-in campaign for an alternate option (not necessarily just against Mr. Escarce — perhaps against SMRR’s entire ballot). One good choice seems to be Judith Meister. She announced this week that she is no longer running because she realizes that without outright SMRR support, she’s probably wasting her money. Let’s show Ms. Meister that that isn’t true, that we need her on the Board of Education. We don’t need to give SMRR this power any longer! Let’s take back our voices!
Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns (Samohi PTSA president) quoted Margaret Mead in her recent Viking Voice article: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” What do you say, Santa Monica? Are you ready to stand up for yourselves and the disadvantaged of our school district and vote for school board members who will make a difference and shake things up?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 26, 2008. Read the original PDF.