Our school board needs Bobby Burgess

To the editor: I am most grateful that Bobby Burgess is running for re-election to the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board. He has demonstrated excellent service and leadership during challenging financial times. Bobby Burgess and I spent two school years together. As his fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, I observed his fine academic skills and enthusiastic participation and leadership in unique group activities. Fairbanks is what Bobby Burgess treasures. Born here, educated k-12 in our public schools and earning both a BA and MS at the Aniversity of Alaska Fairbanks, he works as a scientist in mitigating chemical contamination here in the Interior. He and fellow volunteers helped provide a special reading program in our elementary schools and he's coached youth soccer teams. Prior to running for his first school board term, Bobby served as a volunteer on the school board's Budget Advisory Committee. He was well qualified for that first term and even more so to be reelected for a second term. Closing schools has been heart-wrenching but Bobby remained stalwart while fully dedicated to researching each situation and attentively listening to all sides of each issue. He's a bridge builder, able to work with others. Nothing was easy, but he resolutely sought the best answer available for the stability of the entire school district, it's dedicated and talented teachers, and the support staff that keeps everything running smoothly. For the students —from the very young to the amazing seniors — Bobby has shown dedication, leadership and strength in making tough decisions. Some decisions have been unpopular with various groups but have served the greater community in keeping the FNSB School District as stable as possible under difficult conditions. This year, the board was able to rebuild. The district reinstated elementary instrumental music, hired additional tutors, behavior aids, and secondary academic counselors, and worked to lower class sizes. Bobby is a generous and talented Fairbanksan eager to continue serving us with a second term on this hard-working civic committee. Please join me in voting for Bobby Burgess to continue serving on our community's school board. Judy Shiffler Fairbanks The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular collections. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community.