To the Editor:

Your Feb. 15 editorial “Provide Students with Opportunities” and the previous article about the area’s schools lagging behind the state average in preparing students for college and jobs should cause concern among all local citizens, especially parents of school-aged children and even the children themselves.

With those facts in mind, it is time for the Southampton County School Board to “think outside the box” and to look outside the local area for a candidate to replace (Superintendent) Mr. (Charles) Turner when he retires.

To promote someone from within the system will most likely mean a continuation of the same policies, which have existed for the last several years. The subject came up at a recent meeting of the executive board of the Citizens for Responsible Government, and I was tasked with writing this letter to express our unanimous agreement that a search for Mr. Turner’s replacement should definitely include several qualified candidates from areas outside Southampton County.

We urge the School Board to give very serious consideration to our opinion as they search for the best person to do the job. That person may well come from our local system, but to give such a candidate or candidates preferential consideration does not seem fair to either the students or the taxpayers.

Thank you for allowing us to express our opinion. By the way, our next general membership meeting will be either March 20 or 21, depending upon availability of the Board Room. Please join us as we work for responsible government within the county. Family dues are only $15 per year.

Ash Cutchin
Courtland
Citizens for Responsible Government