Where? Medford Schools?

Are you kidding, Rob Schläpfer? (Feb. 5, Rogue Valley Times op-ed) Have you been in them?
They’re excellent. I’ve been in ALL of them.

Countless games, meets, band concerts, school board meetings, and not just in Medford School District 549C. In 12 years reporting for the Mail Tribune, I visited most of the schools in Jackson County. 

America’s public schools are the heart and soul of their communities. These are singular institutions where everyone’s children — regardless of wealth, language, disability, color or creed — may meet, study, play, and come to know each other and understand the whole of our nation. No one is barred. No one is charged. All are welcomed. 549C schools stand out.

Parents, alumni, business owners, volunteer committee and board members, plus civic organizations like the American Legion and the Medford-Alba Sister City Association, all have for decades invested time, sweat and money to expand students’ opportunities.

Their enduring commitment speaks volumes. As do staff who meet children’s needs daily and with love. Often going beyond the call of duty as when they volunteered during the pandemic summer to pack take-home breakfasts and lunches for children in need. 

And the “kids” do all right!

Matt Heverly, drove Curiosity rover on Mars 12 years — credits fifth-grade visit to North planetarium. 

Bob Wolcott, pitched for the Mariners and Reds.Track athlete Matt Rowan, now Jackson County Circuit Court Judge.

Guitarist Page Hamilton, founded metal band Helmet.

Kyle Singler, NBA player Detroit Pistons, NCAA MOP 2010.

Actor-director Justin Baldoni, Jane the Virgin, t Ends with Us.

Space Tornados, ranked second of 400, 2025 Space Force competition.

Rob Schläpfer may not see their commitment. His intentions are crystal.

Recently, he joined with Russ Kautz on KDOV radio. Kautz spoke in vague, dark, martial terms about our schools and his church committee’s effort to “take over our school boards with Christians who have a Biblical world view,” to do “combat, or do a counteroffensive against Woke Education.”

Who defines “Woke”? Just Christians? Which Christians?

Kautz’s one specific? “We want parents to be in control their child’s education.” They are, Mr. Kautz. Parents can exempt their children from any material. Home-schoolers can opt into any programs they choose.

Throughout our own children’s schooling, we found 549C administrators always responsive. Our youngest, determined to tackle three languages, was allowed to commute between North and South!Schlapfer and Kautz are entitled to their opinion. Their martial tone troubles me.

Must neighbors with whom they disagree be enemies to “battle”? Let’s hope not. 

When an ideologically-driven board took the wheel in Newberg, they fired a great superintendent, who’d brought the district out of bankruptcy in three short years. They then hired an incompetent at an exorbitant salary. Newberg plunged into worse debt than before. The district is still digging out.

What takes a community to build, any firebrand may burn down.