Letter writers weigh in on Olympia school board races and push for expanded wireless service
Elect Frank Durocher
I call on community members to elect Frank Durocher for Olympia School Board Position 2. He is well qualified and passionate about education for all students of Olympia schools.
Andrew Flojo, Olympia
Van Leishout has experience school board needs
As parent who has raised four children in Olympia, I have a vested interest in the Olympia School District and its Board of Directors. With the upcoming elections, I plead with the community to get educated and involved. A safe and effective learning environment is vital to our children, families and community. If we truly care about children, we will educate ourselves on the candidates, issues and needs of our schools and then vote accordingly.
The last few years in our school district can be described as tumultuous at best. We are in desperate need of leadership with integrity, education, experience and a proven track record of results. We owe it to our children and community to support candidates with a well-rounded platform, not merely one issue, focus or experience.
While I hope that the community researches all candidates, I encourage the readers to get to know Leslie Van Leishout as a candidate for District 4. Leslie is an educator, administrator and researcher. Her personal and professional life is committed to diversity, opportunity and evidence-based policy development. Leslie has raised her six children in Olympia and has committed her professional career to the building of an educational system that she wants for her own children and grandchildren.
It is vital that our school board members have an expansive experience and knowledge base. Visit leslie4schools.com to see what skills and background a real educator and administrator should have.
Erik C. Engen, Olympia
Wireless connectivity is a lifeline for climbing
I’ve recently seen a number of articles discussing how the expiration of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) spectrum authority means that deployment of next-generation connectivity, such as 5G, is slowing down in many rural areas around the U.S.
As a woman, I can’t tell you the number of times the lack of connectivity has been a problem for me. When hiking in the Cascades, climbing Mount Baker, and most importantly, getting to the trailhead, I rely on GPS and other tools to help me safely navigate. Too often, my cellphone has had limited service, increasing the level of risk these solo trips bring. Having more consistent connectivity in these moments provides me with peace of mind, knowing if something goes wrong, I have access to the outside world.
I can’t help but notice the real world consequences. If the FCC regains the ability to auction and allocate spectrum radio waves, future connectivity could be improved in many areas, including many of the places still on my list to adventure to.
Congress has an opportunity to reauthorize the agency’s authority and create a future plan of spectrum that can be turned on to connect new devices and reach new areas.
Look, I know some of the places we explore, whether on a mountain or deep in a trail, will not suddenly be connected, but policymakers on both sides of the aisle should be making every effort to expand wireless connectivity. It has the power to transform the limits of adventure.
Jill Barclay, Olympia
