Shady more than snowy

As a true blue, dyed-in-the-wool Democrat whose children attend public schools, I am no fan of New Mexico Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera, but on the March 16 “snow day,” I share her concern that Santa Fe Public Schools inappropriately used public resources to protest further cuts to education (“State to investigate SFPS over ‘snow day’ assembly,” March 24). Calls for public action on policy issues are an appropriate use of a state legislator’s stationery, so I have no problem with Santa Fe Public School’s clarion call to oppose any further cuts. That SFPS freed up resources so its employees and the public could attend the rally makes me uncomfortable. Santa Fe Public Schools maintains that it organized the event so everyone can voice their opinion on the education cuts. Are we to believe that proponents of reining in a bloated public budget would feel their opinion would be given serious consideration at such a gathering? I venture that district Superintendent Veronica García knew the answer to that question.

Amanda Olsen Santa Fe