I would like to express my concerns with the recent Lebanon School Board budget meeting (“Board OKs budget proposal: Members debate need for police officer on campus,” Nov. 22). Significant concerns were raised about having an armed police officer in our schools. Community members (citing independent statistics), the teachers union, students and a petition all offered better ways to spend that money.
Though a school official did speak on the advantages of a school resource officer, many of those advantages could be accessed by just calling police. Being on site in case of an emergency is minor since the officer can be at only one school at a time. As a person of color and a graduate of Lebanon High School, I found it ironic to hear a white principal lecture a white School Board citing statistics provided by police organizations as to why the opinions of people of color who do not want an armed officer in their school are invalid.
It was stated that there would not be enough money for a social worker since the school district pays for half the officer’s salary while the police department pays the other half. This is a false argument as the taxpayers pay all the money.
Board member Richard Milius said he wanted to combat racism in our schools and that the budget was too high. I believe him. However, words are easy and action is difficult. I would encourage funds spent on an armed officer in the schools to be directed to the pool, library, a social worker or back to the taxpayers. At a minimum, there should be a warrant article.
This is not a call to defund the police. Defunding the police is a slogan used to scare reasonable people into maintaining the status quo.
My brothers and sisters of color experienced racism at Lebanon High School. An armed police officer made it worse, not better. I have a brother in the first grade and a 1-year-old daughter. I ask you to consider them and listen to the students, teachers and community members who have called to end this form of systemic racism.
CHRIS ROBERGE
Lebanon
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanon city government meetings are held via Microsoft Teams. The city has directions online as to how to access these meetings at lebanonnh.gov/live. While it is definitely not ideal, it is the best that is offered.
However, accessing the agenda of any specific board is not an intuitive exercise. Several months ago, the process was modified.
Agendas are usually posted several days before the meeting. To access a specific agenda online, go to lebanonnh.gov. Move your cursor to “Your Government,” which will then show two columns. Move your cursor to the “Boards and Committees” column and down that column to the specific board you are interested in and click on it. Under the section titled “Agenda & Minutes” or “Agenda, Audio & Minutes” you’ll see an underlined link to “View Agendas.” Clicking on it brings you to a page where you can click on the new “Agenda Center.” Scroll down to “Current and Upcoming Events” and click on the meeting you are interested in.
These directions may be helpful to those of us who were not born computer literate but who are interested in the activities of the city.
MARY ANN MASTRO
Lebanon
Government in a democracy rests on citizen morality. The authors of the Constitution knew this. To date, lapses in citizen morality have not proved fatal to the democratic enterprise. A key purpose of government, enumerated in the Preamble to the Constitution, is “to promote the general welfare.”
A major reason citizens elected George Washington as the first president was that they expected him to model what a president should be. President Donald Trump and his administration have failed in essential ways to model the presidency and “to promote the general welfare.” They have set Trump’s personal interest in reelection above established procedures for a democratic electoral process. Their mishandlings are about to culminate in a “grand guignol” in Congress on Jan. 6.
Their offenses against the general welfare precede their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. When it came to tax cuts, 90% went to those who did not need them. Their responses to COVID-19 resulted in tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. They delayed approval of needed added relief and then insisted on an inadequate follow-up. Then Trump delayed signing the bill until after millions had lost a week’s unemployment. The impeachment of Trump failed because Republican members of Congress turned a blind eye to his offenses against the Constitution.
But once again, a demand for accountability looms over the Trump administration.
An essential aspect of accountability is to recognize failures in citizen morality. In electing Trump, we disregarded his character flaws and evasions as a businessman. We accepted the “quid pro quo” in his appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices. Too many of us have failed to hold him accountable for his silences and “dog whistles” with respect to race. Many cheer his maskless face and maskless practices outside and inside the White House.
To hold Trump and his administration to account is surely a matter of citizen morality. It is essential for American citizens to ensure that another such episode does not occur. And to act accordingly.
BORIS G. von YORK
Springfield, Vt.
The notion that the media is motivated by hate is false and self-serving. The media is similar to antibodies that attack irregularities — like lies, posturing and autocratic behavior. When an ill-informed buffoon dismantles our government, responsible journalists take note. When their subject vilifies and insults our loyal, hardworking antibodies, they go into action: counting the lies (more than 20,000), uncovering the nepotism and cronyism, reporting dubious behavior.
When Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein wrote about President Richard Nixon’s actions they weren’t motivated by hate. They were simply following leads. And if it weren’t for our journalists and entertainers, this infection might have overwhelmed the nation and raged on.
We don’t hate criminals; we just want to stop them. The concern is the health of the nation. Looking forward to a happier, healthier New Year.
WILLIAM HOYT
Hartland
I was very impressed by VtDigger’s coronavirus status report from the state of Vermont that ran in the Valley News (“Vermont to prioritize age, health,” Dec. 31). It was pretty clear about how the vaccine rollout would take place for Vermonters and where residents could receive their inoculations. The state of Vermont’s website contains even more detailed information.
Not so for New Hampshire (“NH stays mum about vaccine rollout,” Dec. 17). Yes, the state website has info, but it’s not very specific. The plan is written in an “interim” report, which has to be downloaded to be read. Nothing has appeared in the Valley News about the state of New Hampshire’s rollout in as much detail as was done for Vermont. Many people rely on the newspapers to find out what’s happening with the vaccine in New Hampshire. I urge the Valley News to prod the state to release more current information in greater detail and publish updates daily or at least weekly. Keep us informed!
KATHLEEN DECHANT
Hanover