Let’s commend the Concord School Board. In a time of polarization, the board managed to unite disparate groups in our community. As Kass Ardinger, former long-term board member said on 12/6/23, “The Concord community has shown a high level of engagement on the issue of a new middle school and has come to the resounding conclusion that rebuilding at Rundlett is the right answer.” This unity comes in response to the board’s solicitation of public input about the middle school site, only to completely ignore it, and overwhelming public opposition to moving the middle school from its present location. They were right to solicit, wrong to ignore it.

“[Superintendent] Murphy said that moving the district forward requires a triad of accountability, transparency and effective communication.” (Monitor, 1/15/23) regarding the Leung cover-up, but applicable here. Many feel that not only did the board ignore issues raised by the public, but the board’s justification for the move is based upon erroneous data (including site-comparative current and future costs, student population estimates) and false premises. Requested to put some of our concerns on the agenda for “on the record” discussion at the May board meeting, they said “no.” This attitude pushes us to pursue a charter amendment to require the board to obtain a majority vote of the district’s voters when moving existing schools or disposing of school district land. Should a lame duck school board make a fifty year decision concerning relocating a school, or a permanent decision concerning disposing of school land?

Bert Cooper

Concord