From Galen R. Zumbach, Creston School Board vice president
Creston
Mr. Randall Romesburg recently chastised the Creston school administration and board members for not responding and attending the Special Olympics Banquet held on Sunday, June 14. I personally appreciated the invitation, but was unable to attend. As a Board member I try to attend a variety of activities throughout the school year, but find it impossible to attend all of the many hundreds of school and school related activities conducted throughout the year. However, I was very disappointed to learn that my not attending this banquet has branded me a non-supporter of our special education students and the programs these special students are involved in.
If Mr. Romesburg were to go back in time during my 33 years as a Creston educator, I do not believe he would have found very many teachers who spent more resources and time working with students in supporting our special education teachers, and their ongoing programs. One such monthly activity “Helping Hands” was supported by many hundreds of students along with the financial resources needed to make them successful. I really felt that our students (FFA members) who worked with these young people got more out of the interactions occurring than the special children we served. The students looked forward to the variety of activities we sponsored throughout the school year.
In the past, I have attended special education graduations, speaking on behalf of the board, along with supporting and working at several Special Olympic activities. It is unfortunate that Mr. Romesburg felt the need to attack the board and insinuated we do not support our special needs students. Although Special Olympics is not a school-sponsored activity, I have supported this organization in the past and plan to support it in the future. In fact, when I was honored as Creston’s Citizen of the Year a number of years ago the monetary stipend I received was donated to the Special Olympics.
I appreciate what Mr. Romesburg and others do in our community for our special needs children, and specifically the Iowa Special Olympics. However, I wish Mr. Romesburg would have visited with special education instructors Catherine Myers, Colleen Gangestad, Kay Raymond, Kylene Simpson, and others I worked with during the 33 years I was employed as the Creston High School agriculture instructor/FFA advisor before he insinuated I do not support these young people. If he had, he would not have closed his letter to the editor with the comment, “ ...when it is time to re-elect board members we need to take a look at what is most important to them.” Mr. Romesburg, the facts do not support your statement! This board member believes strongly in supporting special education and our Creston special education programs have been well supported by current school board members and school administrators.