I would normally be spending my campaign efforts standing on the corner with my big yellow pencil supporting the candidate(s) that I believe are sincere and passionate in the quest of excellent education for our community children.

This year the efforts of focusing on a long-standing issue regarding the huge number of our primary students not reading or struggling with reading has eaten up all of my available time. The situation of these non-reading and struggling students has escalated from the regular classroom into Special Education "learning disability." In many cases, we have a "reading problem," not a "learning disability." Finally and most recently renewed public awareness by Native leaders that the Native population continues experiencing a higher proportion of "non-reading and struggling students."

"Non-readers and struggling readers" form the basis of exasperating our huge Ketchikan drop-out statistics.

Two of the candidates running for the School Board, Susan Pickrell and Dr. William Pfeifer, have "walked the walk." They are now offering to sit at the table and vote their convictions based on community involvement, research data and hard facts. They both know the reading situation, and they both know the drop out rate situation. Paramount to successful education is: Students have to be in school, and they have to be taught reading.

It has been publicly stated that 100 percent of Ketchikan students exiting first grade"reading 40 words per minute fluently from an unrehearsed text of grade level quality" is obtainable-Dr.Roland Good." District Reading In Service" for primary teachers, Ketchikan, September, 1999.

"Reading scores of the Ketchikan district second grades are dismal." Chapter 1 presenter, Indian Education Act Review Team, Sept. 20, 1999.

"If the strategies being used to teach Native children are not working, we will ask you to change your strategies." Team leader, Indian Education Act, review team, Ketchikan/Saxman Sept. 20, 1999.

Please join with me, Oct. 5, in voting for Susan Pickrell and Dr. William Pfeifer for the School Board.

Election day is a mere three days away.

I have made up my mind who I will be voting for in all of the races on Tuesday. Some of my choices may take a few people by surprise but.....being that I believe in standing up and speaking out, I thought I'd mention who and why I am voting for two of the candidates.
For school board, I have studied the candidates positions, I have listened to them answer questions, read up on their web sites, and attended meetings where the candidates were present.

I am casting my vote on Tuesday for Sue Pickrell and William Pfeifer for two of the vacancies on the school board. First off, both of these candidates cared and were interested enough to attend several functions that involved school issues that I find of great importance to me. That they are interested in learning more, especially from PARENTS about important issues such as the sanctions placed on the district by the State D.O.E. on Special Education, interested enough to attend a Parents of Special Education informational meeting, and interested enough to attend a meeting to learn more from PARENTS of Native Children about their concerns, captured my vote.
I know on a personal, first hand basis that Sue Pickrell not only talks the talk but walks the walk when it comes to caring about the children and youth in this community as well as respecting the PARENTS.

Sue's years of service in this community to children and families is one full of dedication and commitment, and of honor and integrity.
She has the respect of all who have ever worked professionally with her as well as those who have had the pleasure of working with her in children and youth activities over the years. Sue has first hand knowledge and experience in local schools, knowledge of the social problems faced by our children and families today, and working in the "trenches" to improve the lives of kids and families.

William Pfeifer has won a hard earned vote from me! Were this three or even four years ago, I would not be writing this letter regarding my support of him, but times change and one tends to become a little wiser with age. Several things have struck me about Mr. Pfeifer's candidacy. First, he has expressed an interest and a concern in the education of Ketchikan kids for a number of years.

I was extremely impressed that Mr. Pfeifer felt it more important to attend, listen and learn at meeting on the Special Education issues in this District, then to attend a candidate forum sponsored by KEA. It's sad that in a crowd of over 50 people at the Kahi Library on Thursday night , only a handful (2?) educators came to listen to the issues. Mr.Pfeifer came, stayed, listened and learned! As one of a number of parents who often stood alone for the past several years on issues directly related to the educational rights of special needs children, I often had to wonder where others who professed to care about ALL KIDS were, I found Mr. Pfeifer's interest and involvement exceptional!

He is not afraid to ask questions, to listen and to learn, and if necessary review his positions. He also is very firmly in favor of FULL disclosure to the public, which I find a very refreshing attitude after the past four years. I certainly have made no secret about my strong belief in Freedom of Speech issues at school board meetings, with only a few other joining me to speak out to guard this right.
Mr. Pfeifer's answer to question #14 on the KEA questionnaire (which can be found at : http://www.ptialaska.net/~family/kea_questions.html <http://www.ptialaska.net/~family/kea_questions.html> ), supports my personal beliefs as well. I strongly believe that public comments should not be restricted at the public podium to topics on the agenda or for any other reason. Having used the public podium frequently in the past, I believe that the public podium is intended to provide the public a vehicle for communication. A speaker at the public podium should be able to speak and express their ideas, views, and comments without board imposed restrictions. This would include comments that are critical of the district or of the board.

Mr. Pfeifer's response to the CCA questionnaire, question #6 (located at http://www.ptialaska.net/~family/cca_questions.html <http://www.ptialaska.net/~family/cca_questions.html> ) also reflects similar thinking and practice to that of mine own . I will for the moment assume you are speaking of a member of the public and not an elected official when you use the term "person". There should be a policy for appeals that address this and it should be clear, complete and followed. If there is no policy, a policy should be drafted. Some things could be appealed all the way to the elected body, unless the elected body has already made itself clear on the issue or through the development of the policy has given final say on some issues to the administration. The public is always free to come to the body and voice their complaint and appeal to the elected officials to change their policy or create a new policy.

His response to question #15 on the KEA questionnaire is one that sums up and matches what my expectation of an elected school district official should be.

Both Sue and Mr. Pfeifer's willingness to listen and involve PARENTS in the educational process of their children is very clearly stated and one that I as a parent strongly believe in. There may be areas where I do not agree with both Sue and Mr. Pfeifer, nor they with me, however, the reason they have my vote is because I truly believe that both are dedicated, committed to improving the local educational system, both are honest and have integrity, and both will listen to what the PARENTS have to say, with respect.

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