End of year doesn’t help our students

I can’t help but voice my opinion about the decision by the Edmonds School Board to place the snow make-up days from January’s snowstorm on Monday and Tuesday, June 21 and 22, after the last scheduled day of school, June 18.

I thought the basic mission of the public school system was the education of our communities’ future leaders. Will any actual educational work be done on June 21 and 22? Of course not. Is it helpful to the children’s education? Of course not. Does it satisfy the district’s legal requirements to provide a certain amount of “educational” days a year? Of course it does. Does it satisfy the educational unions? The impression is yes.

Does anyone truly believe that two days tacked on at the end of the school year truly benefits students? The district’s communication regarding the make up days focuses and justifies not using the waiver days. It does not address other possible options. One option would have been using the newly formed during the 2003-2004 school year’s mid-winter break held Feb. 16-20. No mention was made of that possibility. The message this sends to me is that the union has more power and is more important to the Edmonds School District than our children’s education. So be it. It also tells me that my tax dollars are not wisely spent for education. This is a message I will remember on election day.DEBRA HOWELL

Lynnwood