The Saga Continues

....on the front page of yesterdays Star Tribune.

There are two takes on Chris Lind in the Prior Lake-Savage school district.
To detractors, Lind is a man who made a vindictive and successful run for the school board after he was fired for proselytizing to students on campus -- and the cause of last week's resignation of popular Superintendent Tom Westerhaus.
To supporters, Lind is a man of faith and integrity who provided a welcoming ear for students in trouble, someone whose love for children led him to seek a position on the board that fired him.

Now I have said all I have to say on Chris' firing before - I see no need to restate any of it.

For all of it's faults, the Star Tribune South Metro reporters have done a very fair job of reporting the issue. Except for this quote:

Jackie Underferth of Prior Lake was more outspoken. "I wouldn't trade one Tom
Westerhaus for 10,000 Chris Linds," she said.

What you do not get in the story or the quote above is Ms. Underferth's bias toward the board and to the Superintendent. You see, Ms. Underferth is one of the founders of the levy advocacy "Stand by Me" Committee. Ms. Underferth has long been an active advocate for the school district. Don't get me wrong...I see nothing wrong in her activity. I actually applaud her involvement. I think if everyone in the community spent HALF as much time actively involved as Ms. Underferth has, this would be a much better place. However, if we are going to report the biases on one side (Pastor Jim Barringer who spoke on Chris' behalf) we really should report the biases of the other!

Of course there is another explaination on why Ms. Underferth's relationship to the board and the Superintendent was not reported. It could be that she did not disclose that relationship to the reporter. I think it is a question that needs to be asked.

In the interest of my own full disclosure. I know Ms. Underferth and Mr. Lind. I admire both of them for their dedication to the children of our school district and I think they should both be commended for putting their beliefs into action. Heaven knows that there are many in the district that love to complain about how things are going but they do not do anything about it (and before you say anything - YES I am involved in the community - more in the city and county than the school board but...).

Having said all that, I would never say what Ms. Underferth said about someone that I disagree with. I can appreciate that we need to hear from as many voices in our community as possible. To completely dismiss someone as unworthy because they do not agree with your point of view on an issue (in this case school funding) is one reason why there is so much bitterness about school funding.