Letter to the editor: School board captained ship

Today's Arizona Daily Star includes a Letter to the Editor from Laurel Jacobs, DrPH, MPH, public health professor and CFSD parent. "Throughout the pandemic, our school board consistently 'steered the ship' calmly, seeking counsel from a variety of experts, and listening authentically to a wide range of parents’ perspectives," writes Dr. Jacobs. The full letter is included below.

School board captained ship

For the last seven years I have had a student in the Catalina Foothills School District. Three of these years were impacted by the COVID pandemic. As a public health professor, I have viewed our families’ school district experience through this lens. Throughout the pandemic, our school board consistently “steered the ship” calmly, seeking counsel from a variety of experts, and listening authentically to a wide range of parents’ perspectives. The board demonstrated thoughtful decision making and balanced communication, and my student was back at school through an on-site option after only a few months. We need leaders who can reliably listen to all sides of the issues and make fair-minded decisions that put the academic success of all students at the top of the priority list. I am grateful for the work of Amy Bhola and Amy Krauss (and Gina Mehmert), and I support their continued leadership in the school district.

Laurel Jacobs, DrPH, MPH