[Lekooks] Arrowhead School Board

Tue Mar 5 17:46:56 CST 2024

If you live in Arrowhead and are considering who to vote for for school
board, please consider reading this email.  It came to me from Bill Peche,
a retired Arrowhead teacher who was one of the people who presented at our
"Teaching the Truth about School Board Takeovers" forum that we hosted in
the fall of 2022.

It is worth reading wherever you live to learn about what's happening at
school boards all over.

Kerry
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <thompsonsailor at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Subject: Craig Thompson's reelection to the Arrowhead School Board
To: <thompsonsailor at gmail.com>

Dear Friends,

Each year about this time, I have tried to provide you with a brief update
on the Arrowhead High School election situation.  In the past, many of you
have asked me for recommendations regarding candidate choices. I have
always considered it an honor to be consulted on these matters. Thank
you!  *This
year, I am running for reelection**.  *It has been three years since my
last run, and the landscape has changed considerably since April 2021.
Please bear with me as this email is longer than past ones.

Until very recently our school elections were strictly local matters.
Arrowhead district citizens have decided whom to elect based on local
issues and their knowledge of the candidates.  Campaigns have been funded
almost entirely by the candidates themselves. This has always been the case
with me.

But this has changed dramatically in the last 2-3 years!  Recently elected
AHS board members have emphasized state and national political issues and
have received funding from a county/state political party.  In my view,
this alters the landscape considerably.

First, school boards have always been nonpartisan positions; I believe they
ought to remain as such.  We ought to concern ourselves with what is best
for our students’ educations, with state and national political agendas
remaining outside of school board meetings.  (Of course we are subject to
Wisconsin state statutes, state funding, etc.  Such matters are necessary
topics of discussion.)

Second, when election campaigns are financed by a political party, the
costs of a school board campaign are driven up and can no longer be covered
by the candidate.  A political party can provide financial and other
resources to overwhelm an individual candidate who has no such backing.  A
party-backed candidate can buy more yard signs, mailers, advertising, etc.
Matching this level of expenditure becomes very challenging-- but worse is
the fact that a candidate who accepts funding from a political party is
beholden to that party and its agenda.  As they say, “Follow the money!”
That candidate will be tempted to no longer be guided by his/her
convictions and/or local constituents’ concerns but will instead be mindful
of where his/her future funding will come from.  As a result, local school
boards become contaminated with the same kinds of campaign finance issues
as are present at the state and federal level.

Over the last two election cycles, party-backed candidates have gained a
majority on the Arrowhead board. Several policies have been passed by this
new majority which are clearly politically driven. In my view, these
policies have been unnecessary, counterproductive, and/or divisive.  Our
fine superintendent announced her resignation/retirement about 18 months
ago, stating that she could no longer accomplish her primary
responsibilities due to the distractions caused by the new political
agenda.  It is my understanding that several of our local elementary school
superintendents have left for similar reasons.  I have spoken personally
with a couple of AHS teachers who have left or are seriously considering
leaving for similar reasons. This is very concerning, as it may jeopardize
the quality of our kids’ education and the ongoing excellence of our
school.

My opponent, Anne Angeli, is certainly being backed by a political party.

I have been sorely tempted to walk away from this controversial and
stressful environment. However, I have decided to run again because I
believe that our school needs my experience and nonpartisan voice to
balance the inexperienced and partisan voices.  My aim has been and
continues to be to speak and vote my conscience and my beliefs regarding
what is best for our students, our fine school, and our community.

With the help of a team of committed people, I have established a website,
a Facebook page, and an Instagram presence to get the word out about this
election.   I hope to be able to afford to send a mailer through the USPS.
This seemed to be quite effective for the party affiliated candidates the
last two years.  Nonparty affiliated candidates have not been able to
afford this expense and have lost elections in every case at the Arrowhead
level.

Although I have never asked before, but have paid expenses out of my own
pocket, I am asking any of you who might want to contribute to my
re-election efforts to go to my Facebook page or website and use the Venmo
app if you care to contribute.  My largest expense will be printing and
sending out mailers/postcards through USPS.  The estimated cost to deliver
one mailer to each of the 17,000 households in the Arrowhead district is
approximately $3,600 (Printing: $1,800 and Postage: $1,800). Just as
importantly, you can learn more details about why I am running, my
background, and why I believe I am the most qualified candidate.  Thank you
ahead of time for any amount you may choose to contribute to my campaign!

Please VOTE on April 2!

Sincerely,

Craig Thompson

Website              www.Craig4AHS.com

FaceBook           facebook.com/cthompsonAHS/

Instagram          @craigthompsonforahs

Email                    craig4ahs at gmail.com

If you would like to display a yard sign, please contact me.

Also, from Bill:

Be aware of this website to share with people in the Arrowhead community.
It provides links to student-centered, pro-public school candidates running
for school board in all schools in the district.
https://linktr.ee/arrowheadareaschoolboards

[image: arrowheadareaschoolboards.png]

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