With the divisive attempt to recall Regional School Unit 21 school board members in Kennebunk, we must be aware of the recall tactic being used nationally. Ballotpedia.org, a website that tracks elections in the U.S., reports that between 2009 and 2020, there were an average of 27 recalls targeting school board members per year. In 2021, there were 92 recalls. In 2022, 25 are already pending.

Why are we seeing such a surge of recalls? What we observe is an intentional, cynical and coordinated strategic tactic. It is being used to disrupt, distract and bully school board members from making substantive progress in modernizing curriculums, proposing reasonable COVID modifications and bringing meaningful progress and change to their school districts. These efforts are creating distractions from school boards’ most important work: providing the highest-quality educational experiences for students.

These efforts are also promoting a difficult environment for volunteer elected officials. Efforts like these decrease the likelihood that talented, highly qualified individuals (unpaid in RSU 21) will seek to serve our school districts in the future. With understandable pandemic-related frustration from parents and faculty, a small group of angry and vocal people are trying to overrule a more widely accepted response to problems in the district.

I am distressed at what is happening in Kennebunk – our town is being divided. It seems that is the goal of the recall folks, because why else recall someone who has only three months left on his term? Beware. Your district could be next.

Karen Plattes
Kennebunk

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