Today’s Durango Herald editorial (Nov. 5) is titled “Who will stand up?” questioning 9-R superintendent Dan Snowberger, and the 9-R school board members, over disclosure of a recent, no doubt legally delicate, matter at Needham Elementary School.
I will stand up, but not in the way as framed by the editorial.
I was a state legislator for this area for 10 years. During that time, I met and learned to seek out Dan Snowberger for thoughtful, courageous and proactive education policy ideas as well as his assessments of what 9-R’s students, faculty and staff needed to do their best work. As a trustee for Fort Lewis College, I still look to Dan for ideas and practical ways FLC and the local schools can best support our students.
Anyone with a phone can make a 911 call and say whatever is on their mind at that time and without detailed examination. It’s a call to 911 after all. A 911 transcript is not a court of law, and, in this case as reported in the editorial, was not very revealing as to what the true nature of the situation was.
If we want good and qualified people to serve the public, such as a school superintendent or a school board member, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions and impugn people’s character and motives carelessly.
I will stand up for Dan Snowberger, as a good and caring individual and a deeply committed education professional. It appears that, after appropriate examination including with personnel implications, his school board members continue to see him in a similar light.
Durango’s history has been to hold high standards for civility and to be an exceptionally caring community – let’s buck the current political trend and refuse to do otherwise, including in our newspaper.
Ellen Roberts
Durango
