Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I am writing in support of Renee Dial for Isle of Wight County School Board in District 2. I believe Ms. Dial’s values and beliefs are much more aligned with mine than her opponent, Mark Wooster.

Mark Wooster often campaigns with Jason Maresh (District 4) and has the support of John Collick (District 5). I am concerned regarding future decision-making of the board should these individuals hold the majority vote.

For example, the following post is from Mr. Maresh’s public Facebook page: “Both Vines and Dial (and Chairwoman Tynes) voted to keep sexually explicit & critical race related materials in IWCS schools after parental appeals to have them removed and/or filtered.” This comment is misleading and without appropriate context.

Two parents — yes, that’s right, two — followed the appropriate protocol to have select apps removed from their students’ devices due to what they perceived to be sexually explicit and Critical Race Theory-related materials. I respect their right as parents to make this request for their children. These two parents, however, appealed to have the apps removed from ALL students’ devices. It is a dangerous precedent to alter curriculum based on a few parents’ requests. The School Board’s vote to deny this request was the right call.

While I understand that privately each board member is probably aligned with a particular political party, I do believe that the School Board and School Board elections should be nonpartisan. School board members should serve in the best interest of the children and not for a political agenda.

I do not want Isle of Wight County to become the next Spotsylvania County. The teachers in the county are not trying to indoctrinate your children. Most, if not all, are hard-working, passionate educators who are trying their best to teach your child the subject or subjects that they were hired to instruct. I have only positive things to say about the teachers that my children have been fortunate to have.

 

Stephanie Caggiano

Smithfield