Rockwood Alum Says “It’s Like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!”

As one of the first students to attend Lafayette High, my wife and four children are all alumni. When asked what high school did you attend, we are ready and proud to say “Lafayette High School."

Rockwood has always provided a good education, and is rated a top school district in Missouri. Some of the Rockwood schools are even ranked nationally. The alumni of Rockwood remember their high school teachers and many have come back to work in Rockwood. But when alumni and voters are looking at the actions of the school board, it is like a “Ripley’s Believe It or Not."

Congratulations to Steve Smith for resigning. If the actions of Steve Smith and Glenn Construction were 100 percent in the interest of the schools, it doesn’t appear that way. I’m sure there are other good local companies that would have jumped at a chance to bid.

It’s now time for the rest of the board members who voted for Glenn Construction projects without competitive bids to resign.

The school board hired Dr. (Bruce) Borchers in July 2011. They paid a premium salary to a man who never was a superintendent and then, to make sure he didn’t fail, they approved $250,000 to hire two crony consultants at outlandish salaries.

Current board members just voted to extend Dr. Borcher’s contract through June 2016, while at the same time, asking voters to approve a $38 million bond issue. I don’t believe the voters will approve a bond issue with the current board directors still serving.

The voters see a school board of cronies making deals. We need a new school board with some Rockwood alumni and members with common sense. Rockwood alumni who are proud of their school district. A top-rated school district deserves the best school board and the best people to run it. Hopefully, more Rockwood alumni, teachers union, along with Eileen Tyrrell, spokesperson for Rockwood Stakeholder for Real Solutions, will speak out and demand a change in the school board.

Conrad Schuessel Sr.
Wildwood

Editor's Note:  This letter to the editor indicates "current board members just voted to extend Dr. Borcher’s contract through June 2016." That vote was 4-3. Read Patch article from Feb. 26:  Rockwood's Superintendent Contract Extended Just as State Audit Results Are Expected