Concerns About the 2011 Ozark School Board Elections

The Ozark school board elections are just the corner in April. I have many concerns about these elections as the school board blindly leads the school district to the additional costs of the International Baccalaureate, while ignoring its radical anti-American associations and endorsements like the United Nations human rights doctrine and the Earth Charter, while claiming the school needs to tighten its belt. I also have problems with one school board candidate openly calling some parents cowards for expressing these IB concerns at a recent PTA meeting that was an open forum for the school board candidates.

As well, we have a husband and wife both running for school board (Ryan and Kim Maddox), which is perfectly legal or they wouldn't be on the ballot, but I ask why does the school board need to be strong armed by the Maddox family and their agenda? Can we open the debate wide enough for issues affecting the students of Ozark while having this partnership of husband and wife sitting on the school board. I mean on the federal level, we get nervous about such power. Remember how controversial it was for Bill Clinton to give his wife Hillary an open book to design a healthcare system? It closed off most of the debate during that fiasco as well as they attempted to strong arm their agenda on the American people. You have to ask what motivates a husband and wife to run to sit on the same board. What is their agenda? Will they be too powerful on the school board and will that power get in the way of a common sense approach that returns more local power of the school back into the residents of Ozark.

I would be concerned about this. Ryan and Kim Maddox have every right to serve the school board, but living under the same roof, do they honestly bring enough varying opinions into the school board to ensure Ozark children get the very best education? I believe it ensures a two-vote advantage and nothing more. Just something to think about before you head to the polls to vote for school board members.

As of the IB, the current school board has led the district down a slippery slope, which will ensure higher taxes to cover the IB's exuberant cost for a curriculum that may not represent your American and religious values. School board members don't want to discuss higher taxes or the possible lessons that may not represent the values that you are teaching your children within your home. That's why this may be the most important school board election in the history of the Ozark school district.

The IB application process cost taxpayers just $10,000 to apply. A similar program called AP has no application fee. Training for teachers will cost more than $60,000. Tests will cost over $100 per student. The average cost for an IB school to provide the IB costs $150,000 to $200,000 on average per year. These are costs that Ozark residents will face as the current school board says they must tighten their belt, and these are just on the surface.

Unfortunately, all school board candidates have issued statements of their support for IB. This is the sad reality of the coming school board elections.