To the editor:

On Sunday it was reported in a recap of the past year that the most prominent news story of the year was the culture conflict in the school district. In the article it was implied that the non-incumbents in the race for a seat on the school board who support traditional values did not wish our schools to foster a welcoming atmosphere. Quote: “In the November election, the three incumbents were re-elected, and the district continues with its efforts to foster a welcoming atmosphere.”

The implication of the above statement leaves readers with a false impression about the reason four of New Ulm’s citizens chose to run for a position on the board. Not one of those who ran expressed a desire to exclude any student from a quality education which welcomes all to reach their potential in a safe and caring environment. Below are the actual, stated goals of those who wanted to give our community an alternative. They ran to replace the incumbents on our school board because they believe our schools’ focus should be to:

• Teach the basics without the distraction of emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion as defined in modern day terms.

• Teach patriotic love of our country while learning from past mistakes.

• Teach about the reproductive process at the appropriate age while allowing parents to raise their children as they see fit when it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation.

• Teach children to show kindness to everyone without placing them in groups that will pit one against the other.

Fifty-four% of ISD-88 voters decided that the above goals were not the direction they want our schools to go. Rather, they want the main focus of our school board’s work and time to be placed on fostering a “welcoming atmosphere.” Forty-six % of the voters wanted the main focus of our schools to be the goals as stated above, while welcoming every student to achieve the highest potential possible for each of them.

The community has spoken regarding the direction of our schools going forward, but the desires of almost half of the voters in the education of the children of ISD-88 should not be dismissed or be characterized as a wish to be unwelcoming.

Mary Thom

New Ulm