Your article on the recent Augusta school board meeting, focused almost entirely on the antics of the few disrupters, was profoundly disappointing (“Allegations, prayers fly at Augusta school board meeting,” March 12). Imagine the reaction of the people who contributed to that meeting, especially the students, when they saw their efforts ignored. You allowed the clowns to censor them.

In the reporting, the meeting was absurdly called “bizarre.” I saw a meeting run efficiently and productively by the competent and dedicated chair, Martha Witham. The meeting lasted two hours, ending exactly on schedule. The clown show wasted some 30 minutes of that. The rest was interesting and positive and entirely absent from the paper. 

A vote was taken about a major change to the Cony academic schedule. That’s news! A team of educators made an excellent presentation, with background and details of community outreach. Students spoke, very impressively, making cogent arguments for both options. How about an article on that?

There was a report by the superintendent, including a sweet story of thanks he received from elementary students. There were reports on the budget, school construction and the many successes of school teams and bands. A special award was given to the student board member. The retirement of a principal, who has served for 39 years, was announced.

I don’t have the names and details, but you should, and so should all your readers.

Surely a good newspaper must provide information we need to engage with and support our civic institutions. Other sources fuel controversy and outrage. Please do better.

Sarah Reid
Augusta