Controversy and the Concord School Board have never been strange bedfellows. In the 60s the residents of Penacook were given the choice of joining the CSD or MVSD. Fearing the control over the CSD by elite forces who would treat their students as the proverbial red-haired step-child, they opted to join the MVSD. As a result, they get to annually vote on the budget, new positions, capital improvements, and bond issues. MVSD doesn’t waste money on an overpriced unneeded DEI coordinator.

During the 80s there was community concern over the CSD autonomy and the City Council put a non-binding ballot resolution changing it. The clever school board put a counter measure on the ballot and both passed. After a petition drive a charter commission was created and the school board supporters were successful in electing enough ringers so that the only change made was to elect some school members from districts rather than wards like the city council. The issue of autonomy was successfully scuttled. The potential for empowering the voters of the CSD is worthy of the effort. The current school board with its political hack as president have violated the public trust in their unabated choices. The time for change is now.

Robert C. Washburn

Concord