To the Editor: "An Open Letter to the Good People of the Shelby County R-lV School District"

March 27, 2018

(This letter is from my personal self)

This coming weekend, you will be receiving a copy of The Journal (goes out to everyone in Macon and Shelby Counties) - In there is an article that I published composed of facts and ideas that I have been exposed to during the meeting with the Cardinal Kids Together Committee regarding Proposition K.I.D.S. I have been very forth-telling in my desire to publish an article about this issue FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH, all while one side stayed quiet the entire time I was requesting information from them. In the well over 2500+ word article, I was able to incorporate only ONE QUOTE from again, one specific side of this issue (nothing else was given to me) – I was and still am very disappointed. (I received this quote at the last second)

Now, as an outsider and a youngin’, I might draw some criticism for voicing some recommendations or opinions of this. One thing I dislike about Public Education is how politicized it gets – HA HA, this is an example of that. It is very disheartening to see the friction between two respectable communities on the topic of your kids and their education. It’s a mess, I am sorry, but it really is. It is an absolute mess. A paper that covers Macon County Affairs, dipping into Shelby County Affairs was difficult especially after two local newspapers in both communities (Shelbina and Clarence) have covered the issue already. It became “repeated verbiage” that many of you have probably been bombarded with. It’s also really hard to cover a sensitive topic that you are naturally removed from – being from Macon and going to college at Mizzou, I am not in “the talk/gossip of Shelby County.” I simply lack the emotional/communal connection with again, the people of Shelby County – thus, concluding why in my eyes, somewhat, this being a “third-person’s perspective.”

What has been a very heated discussion in the previous years (in Shelby County), this “go-around” a neighboring community that has nothing to do with this entire situation, gets drug dead center into it (one of the reasons why we are needing to cover this). Why Redistricting? That is literally my biggest question that no one has answered. Why? Here in Macon, we have a competitive Mayor’s Race, City Council Race, and you guessed it, we also just got done with a somewhat-heated school tax initiative that finally passed after several years of trying. Now this…..Why? Why the idea of Redistricting?

Just being involved in this for a short period of time and thankfully have been distanced by my studies at Mizzou during the majority of the weekdays, I am exhausted with it (I love politics, but now have this menacing distaste for it deep down). Communication, communication, communication. Talk amongst yourselves, discuss it amongst yourselves, figure it out, amongst yourselves. After April 3rd, whatever the outcome is, or maybe twenty years down the road, look back and ask yourselves as adults, were we respectfully engaging ourselves into the discussion during this period of time? Were we the pillars of example on being a role model to those younger than us? To our kids? To my understanding there have been board meetings and town halls and still, there are those who seem like they don't want to talk to one another. I would be making my case left and right about what my school house means to me, the community, or why we need to be one collective district under one roof moving forward together. While again, citizens in the neighboring school district are being asked to sign a petition in which someday, could be making a decision impacting students and individuals that we as “Maconites” have no clue who they are. These are not our kids! This is YOUR school, your district, your kids, and your community. I couldn't even fathom making a decision that could take away friends from one another - separating them not only from their friends, but their community that they've grown up in.

I truly don’t know the answer to the question of consolidation – I really don’t. From observing districts and counties state wide, many Missouri counties are moving in the direction of having one-consolidated school district, county-wide. It’s heartbreaking and sad, but in a time where Rural America is quickly shrinking, resources and funding are being stretched thin, school boards must use their funding adequately and efficiently in the best interest of everyone (to me that’s common sense). Everyone is being dealt a difficult hand nowadays. Please, stop the fingering pointing. Most of these local problems have been festering for years by outside factors that NONE OF US can control. Families and friendships are being torn apart. It just goes back and forth; one side wants leverage over the other side and so on. Big picture stuff: the decision has to be made for the betterment of the entire district, not just one town, or one group of kids, but for everyone. You guys are one district. A school board is not the local city government; their job and their only job is bettering and improving the educational opportunities for students, faculty and staff in the entire school district – not deciding what direction a community is going to go and definitely not deciding or enacting local policy. I should also include, one of their biggest responsibilities is to make sound financial decisions in spending the tax payer’s money.

People surrounding our children have some of the biggest impacts on a child’s life. Please, ask yourselves, wonder what our kids are seeing during all of this and wonder what impact we are having on them? It’s unbelievable. Its very unfortunate and to be honest, no matter what, I think the kiddos will be the ones that are hurt from all of this – that’s extremely sad. In a million years, I would have never guessed that I would be thrust into the political games of a neighboring county, at times begging someone to throw me a life jacket. I have had the honor in meeting many individuals that call Shelby County Home. There are many individuals that desire the best for all kids within the district – these individuals are trying their hardest to ease the heated situation; give those people a hug and a simple thank you!

Nevertheless, I don’t doubt the wit, humility, and the kindness of those who call Small Town America home. In the end, maybe not tomorrow or next week, but someday this will all be laid to rest and with out a doubt, you, the good people of Shelby County will move forward, together.

Nothing personal at all, please don’t take this as a full out lecture, take it however you want, this is simply just something I have observed and thought about over the course of 30 days. I don’t even have a dog in this fight so again, its entirely up to you regarding the value of this letter. Believe it or not, I have some Shelby County blood in me (that’s another story and another day).

With that, thank you for the experience. I’ve learned a lot. In the context of my professional self, The Journal does cover Shelby County - so in the future, I look forward to working with anyone on possible stories; including stories that are non-political (lol).

Very Respectfully (someone who now and desperately needs an all-inclusive getaway to a remote island in the Pacific),

Benjamin Nelson

GET OUT AND VOTE ON APRIL 3rd

"We are only as strong as we are united. As weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling