As a business owner and retired teacher, I want to voice my support for Gordon Snow and Renee Fisher for the Alpena Public Schools school board.

Recently, they both attended the forum for candidates presented by the League of Women Voters, and I appreciate their open answers about why they want to serve and how they support public education.

Of concern to me are the candidates who chose not to attend, including Monica Dziesinski, Eric Lawson, and Sarah Costain, and what their reasons and agenda are for wanting to be on our public school board.

All three are endorsed by the Northeast League of Conservative Education whose mission is to restore a “patriotic education” system as “God intended.”

In my opinion, this means instilling their conservative values on our public schools, which should raise a red flag for all of us.

I believe this group has a political agenda, one that does not focus on or support our diverse population of families at APS. What happens if the curriculum, the various school activities or clubs in our schools, or the books in our classrooms and libraries do not align with their religious and conservative values? This group talks about parents having more of a say in their child’s education but what about the rights of parents who don’t support their conservative values?

We want a board that is focused on supporting all students and staff. And honestly, I’m tired of these groups who instill discord in our community, the hate and smear campaigns directed towards people who don’t support their beliefs, the fear and threats.

This has to stop.

And we do this by supporting candidates like Gordon Snow and Renee Fisher who simply want to put the work in to make our public school its absolute best for all students.

CHERIE HONEYCUTT,

Alpena