Readers Write for Wednesday, Oct. 28

ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Brodrick is just the school leader they need

The Star Tribune regrettably did not endorse John Brodrick for St. Paul school board (Oct. 23). The Editorial Board's narrow focus on innovation not only failed to acknowledge John's contributions to school reform, but also neglected to recognize the broader importance of his unique leadership skills to help bring about change.

Brodrick has spent 50 years in the St. Paul public schools as a student, teacher and school board member. He brings an open mind, a straight-shooter approach and decades of hands-on experience addressing the issues facing our students, families and staff. As a school board member he helped lead two successful levy referendums. Most recently he worked with his colleagues and the community to improve policies on graduation requirements, student discipline and academic standards.

Brodrick also brings a unique life experience to the board. A self-proclaimed "Rice Streeter" and longtime resident of Frogtown, he has an infectiously positive outlook on the future, a commitment to asking tough questions and an ability to connect with students, families and people from all walks of life.

IAN KEITH AND Gail Daneker, St. Paul

Kevin Reich

Skilled organizer will be a fine council member

I am dumbfounded to see the Star Tribune endorse one of Kevin Reich's competitors for Minneapolis City Council (Oct. 26). Reich is far and away the most qualified candidate running to be our next council member.

Your editorial rightly notes that Kevin is "a master of governmental processes ... with a large problem-solving toolkit at the ready," and then blithely wonders what kind of troubles that expertise may cause. I can tell you from experience that Kevin is terrific at finding workable, sensible, win-win solutions when resources are scarce, and has greatly improved city services and community life in our transitional neighborhood. He won the DFL endorsement through hard work and skillful community organizing. He'll be an outstanding council member!

MARGIE SIEGEL, MINNEAPOLIS

SCHOOL DISTRICT 883

Only voters can preserve its high quality

As a recent graduate from Rockford High School, I look back on my experience knowing that I wouldn't trade it for the world. I took advantage of the small environment at my school and got involved in many different activities. I graduated as a well-rounded student, confident in my preparedness for success in college.

Current and future Rockford students deserve a similar experience. Unfortunately, my school's referendum has failed for the past six years. My district has been forced to cut faculty, reduce course offerings, and increase class sizes. Rockford currently receives $12.79 per pupil for a year of education; neighboring schools, such as Wayzata, receive over $1,500 per pupil. These cuts have a deteriorating effect on student success and college preparedness. With the lack of support, students' education is put on the line.

I sincerely hope voters join me Nov. 3 in recognizing the value of a quality education; please vote "yes."

KAYLA ALTENDORF, LORETTO

headline was flip

And one reader says it triggered a phone jam

Some editorial judgment should have been used before running the Oct. 26 front-page headline "Winning the Vaccine Lottery" with the large photo of a child receiving a H1N1 shot at a Park Nicollet clinic, along with a story indicating that the shots were being given to children there on a first-come-first-served basis, with no apparent priority to those with underlying conditions.

It left the impression that the carefully controlled distribution with clearly designated priority groups had been replaced by a free-for-all. Whether this was correct or not, it also left parents of children with underlying health issues concerned that they had been passed over.

The heavy call volume this information provoked brought down the Park Nicollet phone system and caused additional distress to worried parents like myself.

MARIAN JOHNSON, EDINA

HEALTH CARE REFORM

Marketplace is failing the public welfare

An Oct. 25 letter writer asserts that the private sector does health care best, declaring, "Entrepreneurs are not perfect, but more reason exists in the free marketplace."

The main "reason" guiding for-profit companies is the mandate that their first priority is to make profits for their shareholders, not to provide health care for their insurees.

Over the past year, we have certainly learned of the many egregious practices used by health insurance companies to maintain those profits by denying coverage to insurees, and have heard innumerable horror stories of very sick people who fell victim to them.

To top it off, the industry has used $263.4 million of the premium money we pay to fund six lobbyists per each of the 535 congressional legislators to fight the single-payer and public option plans preferred by the public.

This kind of "reason" we can do without. Congress is supposed to protect the public welfare. The despicable tactics of the health insurance industry are a definite reason to shut it down.

WANDA S. BALLENTINE, EAGAN