It was hard to miss Alpena Public School Board member Sarah Costain’s social media post last week: “We’re so happy we can give All Saints a beautiful greenhouse, a place to grow something amazing, and an outdoor space all the classes can enjoy.” Costain was referring to a greenhouse project she helped fund and build at All Saints School. Yes, in fact this does sound like a wonderful opportunity for the 100, or so, students enrolled at All Saints private school.

At the same time, it’s hard to forget that Costain denied a similar opportunity for Alpena Public School students by voting no on a rain garden project this past spring. The rain garden project, which was 100% grant-funded, would have provided an outdoor learning experience in ecological processes for 3,700 Alpena Public School students in this next school year alone … and thousands more in the years to come. The added bonus of a rain garden is it acts as a natural pollutant filtering system for our drinking water. Bonus upon bonus, and yet Costain voted that down. What Costain found beneficial for the privately educated students at All Saints, including her own children who attend All Saints School, she dismissed for public school students. It’s clear Costain holds two, very seperate, value systems … often referred to as a double standard.

To add some insult to injury, Costain closed out the school board meeting this Monday with what can only be described as an “Ode to Self” where she spoke for almost three minutes on all the many wonderful things she has selflessly done for the community. Self-eulogy from a school board member at a school board meeting. You really can’t make this stuff up.

CATHY GOIKE

Alpena