George,

I am strongly in favor of having directly elected school boards. The process was much better this time around with Kevin and Maurice involved in the process. The biggest part of the Charlottesville budget is for education so the people should be able to have direct input on the people who are responsible for administering these funds.

Just because I want directly elected school boards doesn't mean that I am dissatisfied with the quality of education in the city schools. My children have progressed through the various levels of the city school system and we have been satisfied at each step. CHS in particlar is a gem. I think the schools have succeeded despite some of the administrators and because of fine teachers, principals, and involved parents.

There are areas for improvement and even though I am nearly finished with the school system I want other parents to have the same opportunities for their children that my children have had. We need to maintain the quality we have, guard against political correctness, and take steps necessary to retain good teachers.

Downing Smith (electronic mail, January 3, 2001).