Just Sayin': School boards need independent members

School boards need independent members

Labor unions exist for the benefit and protection of their rank and file. Teachers’ unions are no exception. School boards negotiate teachers' salaries and benefits. With a union endorsement of school board candidates, there is an expectation, perceived or otherwise, that teachers’ contracts would be favorable to the union.

There is a difference between the dedication and professionalism that our teachers give their students and the goals of their respective unions. Endorsements of school board candidates by teachers' unions and other outside organizations tip the scales in favor of their hand-picked candidates by providing large donations and added personnel to run campaigns. I know, because I enjoyed teachers' union support in four of my five campaigns for the Sachem Board of Education (my only loss came without union support).

It’s disturbing that police unions are also getting involved in endorsing candidates. I am a Police Benevolent Association member as well as a sitting school board member who believes police unions have no business trying to tip the scales in school board elections.

Due to teacher and police unions, and outside political action committees, I have decided not to run for reelection after devoting years of volunteerism to my school district. The shame is that many good, dedicated community members will not participate or succeed in the school board election process due to the unfair influence of these groups.

It’s time for parents and community members to support candidates who are running independent of unions and political action committees to have a seat at the table on local school boards.

Jim Kiernan, Holbrook

I cast my vote for new election info cards

This week, my husband and I received voter information cards from the Board of Elections for us as Islip residents. We’ve receive these cards every year but paid them little attention, other than to confirm our voting location. That changed when we took the time to read the red-highlighted two lines at the center front of the card: “If this piece of mail is received by someone not residing at the address given in the notice, please mark same and drop it back in the mail.”

If you received a similar notice, did you understand it? Were you as confused as we were?

“Someone not residing at the address.” If we weren’t residing at the address given, why were we taking these cards from our mailbox? Did the mail carrier deliver them to the wrong house?

“Please mark same.” “Same” what? What is that someone “not residing at the address” supposed to “mark”? “Mark same” in what way, exactly?

What does “drop it back in the mail” accomplish? Does the post office return it to the Board of Elections? What happens to the person who is “not residing” in the house where the notice was delivered?

Christine Brakel, Brightwaters