Last week’s display of rudeness and belligerence towards our all-volunteer RSU 21 school board was alarming. We continue to see these trends nationally, and hoped we’d be immune to these bullying and aggressive approaches. It is clear we are not.

Behind a small minority of voters attempting to impose their will through a cruel, unjustified recall election of a valued, hard-working school board member (initially two), we see connections to record-breaking numbers of school board recalls nationally.

Behind the bitterness and hostility toward our district’s necessary and important Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative, we see connections to the national attempt to try to remove unpleasant truths (racism, the holocaust) from school curriculums.

And now, behind a small band of angry, aggrieved citizens, unwilling to follow science-based rules the rest of us have respected for the good of our teachers, students and most vulnerable community members, we see connections to those certain that the righteousness of their cause outweighs a need to value order and others’ safety, and are reminded of the attitudes that made Jan. 6 possible.

Our school boards are under siege, both nationally and at home. When a leader of last week’s anti-mask outburst (a prominent recall supporter) ran for the school board last June, he was endorsed by the recall leader. If the display at last Monday’s board meeting represents re-callers’ vision for reform, we should all be concerned.

What you can do to support our school district, board and community: Vote “No” on the March 29 recall.

Gaby Grekin
Kennebunkport

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