To the Editor:

I am writing as a parent in our community to speak plainly about the conditions in our local school district—and to call for immediate accountability and change.

Over the past several years, our schools have experienced an alarming level of turnover among teachers and administrators. This instability is not just a staffing issue; it has real consequences for students. My child, now in high school, experienced middle school as a period of constant disruption. With a revolving door of educators, there was little consistency or continuity, and my child has expressed feeling inadequately prepared academically as a result. That is a devastating reality for any parent to face.

The staffing situation has deteriorated to the point that uncertified teachers are becoming more common than certified educators in our classrooms. This is not a sustainable or acceptable standard for our children’s education. Compounding the issue, the district’s shift to a four-day school week has failed to deliver on its promises. It was presented as a solution to improve recruitment and retention and to save money. None of those outcomes have materialized. Recruitment is not up. Retention is not up. The budget has not improved despite one fewer day of school each week. It is time to acknowledge that this approach has not worked and begin pursuing alternative solutions.

At the same time, the physical condition of our schools continues to decline, yet many of these issues are not openly acknowledged or discussed. Basic problems—such as roof leaks that require bowls and buckets in classrooms and hallways—are not part of the public conversation. Classroom sizes are also increasing, and overcrowding is becoming more evident across grade levels. The elementary school has been pushed into shared spaces within the middle school, and the middle school is now holding classes in the high school agriculture building, further disrupting consistency and learning environments.

While the community approved a $2 million football facility, it is the district’s leadership that chose to prioritize this project over urgently needed repairs and improvements to school buildings and educational resources. That decision reflects a troubling misalignment of priorities and underscores the need for greater transparency about the true condition of our schools.

Further raising concerns about financial priorities, the district plans to replace the basketball gym floor this year while also outlining plans to build an entirely new gym within the next four to five years. Investing in a facility that is already slated for replacement suggests a lack of long-term planning and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Additionally, the recent purchase of a $106,000 propane bus paired with a reported trade-in value of only $3,000 raises further questions about financial oversight and whether district resources are being managed in the best interest of the community. In a rural district with long bus routes and frequent travel for athletics and activities, questions should have been raised about whether propane-powered buses are a practical long-term choice given their range and efficiency compared to other options.

Equally troubling is the lack of transparency and responsiveness from district leadership. Parents are often left in the dark about serious safety concerns, sometimes learning about threats through local law enforcement social media before hearing anything from the school. This breakdown in communication is unacceptable.

There are also deeply concerning reports of inappropriate conduct from teachers toward students that appear to go insufficiently addressed. Students deserve to feel safe and respected in their classrooms, and any failure to uphold that standard must be taken seriously and handled with urgency.

Finally, our community is grieving the tragic loss of a student. While the full circumstances are still under investigation, the situation has raised painful questions about how issues like bullying are handled and whether enough was done to protect that child. This is not something any school community should take lightly, and it demands careful reflection and meaningful action.

Taken together—the high turnover, increasing reliance on uncertified teachers, deteriorating facilities, questionable financial and operational decisions, failed policy changes, lack of communication, concerns about student safety, and loss of confidence from both families and educators—these issues point to a clear need for new leadership. For the sake of our students, I am calling for the resignation of the superintendent and for a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and the well-being of every child in our district.

Our children deserve better.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Parent