Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Newkirk! Throw Him Off the Committee

 
Recently, Jeffco school board conservative John Newkirk attempted to have two parent volunteers removed from school district committees for a conversation they had on a social media site regarding a gun. Newkirk is expected to bring the topic up again at an April meeting, as the board searches for any excuse to clear their opponents from school district committees.

Newkirk’s complaint is laughable on so many levels. It is particularly laughable in light of the fact that his fellow board conservative, Julie Williams, has mentioned guns and arming teachers on several social media and web sites.

The online conversation between the two parent volunteers did not harm students or the school district. However, one of Newkirk’s friends and supporters has had a huge online conversation (there is also a print version) that has harmed the district and students. Tom Coyne should be removed from his seat on all district committees for his frequent online diatribes against our students’ performance and against our schools.

Coyne’s lengthy misguided essays about how badly Jeffco kids perform and how bad Jeffco schools are, hurt our property values and they hurt our students who are trying to get admitted to the best schools in the country. His comments hurt our teachers.  Anyone considering moving to Jefferson County who sees Coyne’s writings on his website and in print will find another place to buy a house. Jeffco real estate agents should be mad as hell. When college admissions counselors see what he has written about student achievement, do you think a Jeffco student will get top consideration? And, yes I know admissions counselors who do comb the Internet for information about schools and student performance.

Shame on Coyne for this thoughtless, self-centered writings.  He has hurt the district and students.  Newkirk! here is a reason to throw someone off a committee.

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