Seven Locks issue pits neighbor against neighbor

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Open letter to the County Council:

I just finished writing and sending an e-mail about the Seven Locks Elementary School controversy, which basically stated my opinion that the superintendent of schools has intentionally pitted neighbor against neighbor and school against school to try to get the outcome he wants to the Seven Locks ES controversy, which is a truly divisive method of approaching this problem.

In the time it took me to draft and send that e-mail, I received a copy of a letter sent by Charles Haughey, the president of the Board of Education, to the council, in which he transmits Jerry Weast’s new, proposed ‘‘solution.” This solution now cuts Seven Locks out of any new construction and gives everything to Bells Mills and Potomac elementary schools.

Once again he pits neighbor against neighbor and school against school. He is not seeking a solution for all; he is exacting revenge for the problems that the Seven Locks community have caused him by opposing his plan.

Is this the way we do things in this county? And why are we here, at this point in time? Didn’t this entire discussion begin with where to build a new Seven Locks ES, a school that has received no updating or renovation during the time frame in which the other two schools have received renovations?

Nothing for Seven Locks, a school that still has no gym and no central air conditioning.

Come on. Can’t we do better than this? Can’t someone get this discussion back on track and produce a solution that is fair and equitable for all? Or is revenge the route the school board will be allowed to take?

Mary C. Lyons, Bethesda