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To the Editor,
A rumor has been making its way around town about two School Committee candidates, Johanna Boynton and Kathi Snook. The rumor states that Superintendent Diana Rigby hand picked these two candidates, and that the three of them are good friends.
After speaking with the two candidates, and others who know them, I have learned that this rumor is false. Johanna and Kathi had not met before they both became candidates. Kathi Snook announced her candidacy in December and was introduced to Diana Rigby in January at a funeral of a mutual friend. Johanna has had a working relationship with Diana when she was the Alcott PTG President and on some other school related activities, but they are not friends outside of that capacity. Ms. Rigby did not ask either of them to run.
Johanna Boynton and Kathi Snook will make excellent School Committee members. They are thoughtful, direct, honest, ethical people who are committed to a positive, dynamic school system.
I encourage you to vote for them on March 19.
Louisa Paushter
Jennie Dugan Road
Valerie Tratnyek
12:39 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Louisa, good for you for calling the candidates directly. If only more people would do that before playing "telephone". Remember how messages get twisted in that game? However, I'm not sure Ms. Snook, at least, has been entirely honest with you. I think you should call her back and ask her for more information about her feelings about and/or relationship with our current superintendent and whether she has any ideas about how the school committee should interact with her. And don't be afraid to ask hard questions: For example, the person that nominated Ms. Snook is a strong supporter of our current superintendent and has stated that publicly. She also dismisses any concerns or criticism about how the schools are being run. In what way does Ms. Snook differ from Ms. Bilodeau? Good Luck!
Mr Smith
5:00 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Valerie, are you insinuating guilt by association and that a relationship with Rigby litmus test should be applied before supporting one of these candidates? A lot of people in town know and hold Rigby in high regard. One thing that I can say with absolute certainty is the the integrity of both Snook and Boynton is unshakable.
The email that circulated accusing Boynton and Snook of being hand picked was followed by an apology by its author for being baseless. Why then this keeps coming up shows that either those who repeat it are misinformed, ignorant or themselves of questionable integrity. If anyone can provide evidence to the contrary, please share.