What seems normal lately is the increased dysfunctional, illogical decision-making coming from some of our school board members. The school board meeting on September 22nd was no exception. It’s troubling to realize that Eric Hansen, Eric Lawson, AJ MacArthur and Monica Dziesinski still don’t grasp the damage they’ve done to our school system’s reputation, and that they’ve placed our school system in legal peril. Back in January they voted to award a $680,000 asphalt bid to a higher bidder. With few exceptions, state law mandates public school system contracts be awarded to the lowest bidder. This standard is customary in government to keep prices low for taxpayers. Despite a clear explanation, Hansen, Lawson, MacArthur and Dziesinski instead voted to award a local company, not the lowest bidder.

At a recent workshop meeting on Monday, September 15th, Mary Lyon, APS Business and Operations officer, suggested wording be added to the APS “Purchasing Policy” to help

avoid a repeat of the disastrous, illegal vote in January. Mary AGAIN explained the current law that stipulates the bidding process a public school system must follow.

That brings us to the general meeting on Monday, September 22nd. Prior to a vote on whether to add new language to the “Purchasing Policy”, our Superintendent outlined how that language could be a benefit. Almost predictably, board members Dziesinski and MacArthur still seemed unable to grasp the state’s biddinglaws, attempted to change their story surrounding the January vote (it’s all on video), and then voted against the new language Mary proposed.

Flaunting personal power in the face of our law; these are the people the public have entrusted with making sound financial decisions with our tax dollars. It’s disturbing, to say the least.

Christine Brennan

Ossineke