A Letter to the Editor - Iron County Today
August 14, 2019
On February 5th, 2019 the ICSB voted to “respectfully retire” the REDMEN of Cedar High School. Interesting as the word respect would not describe the Iron County School Board’s treatment of the citizens of the community. Was it respectful to ignore a petition of 5,000 County residents who asked to retain the name? Was it respectful to claim that no decision had been made when the recording of the Aug. 28, 2018 School Board meeting shows otherwise? Was it respectful to include the board presidents’ wife on a supposedly non-partisan committee, or those who reported in an employment capacity to the district? Was it respectful to hold meetings that broke the open meetings law of the State of Utah? Was it respectful to claim that bullying occurred which prompted this action when no bullying reports had been filed with local law enforcement and the Utah State Office of Education as is required by law?
This lack of respect shows poor leadership - the kind of leadership, which approves the purchase of property when the real estate broker is a member of the school board – the kind of leadership that costs the taxpayers close to $1M due to mishandling of a sexual harassment lawsuit. Force is the worse kind of leadership. A change may happen but the fall out is immense which leads to other poor leadership actions like not listening to the students or even reading a letter from the student government to the transition committee. This is the kind of leadership that intimidates employees about wearing REDMEN apparel trampling their first amendment rights. This is the kind of leadership that has to demand followers because it doesn’t inspire followers. This is the kind of leadership that claims the new logo was free and worth $15K without revealing the 5-year exclusive contract with BSN Sports, which is NIKE? This is not free.
Iron County School District was destroyed from within. This debacle wiped out the 77-year heritage of athletic championships, dismissed decades of top ratings by music groups, as well as swimming and 4N6 state championships. REDMEN graduates have made significant contributions in government, business, science, the arts, medicine, and education worldwide as well as stayed in Cedar and built businesses continually supporting CHS and raising children who revere the REDMEN name and follow the tradition and heritage.
Under the guise of political correctness the ICSB acted in the most racist manner and following the path of the 1800’s banished the Native American once again to the Reservation – the Reservation of anonymity.
While the events of February 5th knocked the wind out of the community, things will be righted, new school board members will be elected, REDMEN attire will still be worn by everyone. There is strength in numbers and we will not be intimidated. Respect will be restored as REDMEN fight until the winning score is made. Rather then letting others define us, REDMEN define themselves, and the real history will be reinstated, the heritage remembered and once again a real leader will ask the students at CHS - WHO ARE YOU and the answer will again be a resounding – WE ARE REDMEN.
Respectfully yours,
Voices of Iron County Education
Tony Kociela
Sheryl Stratton
Andrea Nelson
Chris Quick
Nicholas Willis
Lisa Davis
Article PDF link: https://ironcountytoday.com/clients/ironcountytoday/August-14-2019.pdf
This lack of respect shows poor leadership - the kind of leadership, which approves the purchase of property when the real estate broker is a member of the school board – the kind of leadership that costs the taxpayers close to $1M due to mishandling of a sexual harassment lawsuit. Force is the worse kind of leadership. A change may happen but the fall out is immense which leads to other poor leadership actions like not listening to the students or even reading a letter from the student government to the transition committee. This is the kind of leadership that intimidates employees about wearing REDMEN apparel trampling their first amendment rights. This is the kind of leadership that has to demand followers because it doesn’t inspire followers. This is the kind of leadership that claims the new logo was free and worth $15K without revealing the 5-year exclusive contract with BSN Sports, which is NIKE? This is not free.
Iron County School District was destroyed from within. This debacle wiped out the 77-year heritage of athletic championships, dismissed decades of top ratings by music groups, as well as swimming and 4N6 state championships. REDMEN graduates have made significant contributions in government, business, science, the arts, medicine, and education worldwide as well as stayed in Cedar and built businesses continually supporting CHS and raising children who revere the REDMEN name and follow the tradition and heritage.
Under the guise of political correctness the ICSB acted in the most racist manner and following the path of the 1800’s banished the Native American once again to the Reservation – the Reservation of anonymity.
While the events of February 5th knocked the wind out of the community, things will be righted, new school board members will be elected, REDMEN attire will still be worn by everyone. There is strength in numbers and we will not be intimidated. Respect will be restored as REDMEN fight until the winning score is made. Rather then letting others define us, REDMEN define themselves, and the real history will be reinstated, the heritage remembered and once again a real leader will ask the students at CHS - WHO ARE YOU and the answer will again be a resounding – WE ARE REDMEN.
Respectfully yours,
Voices of Iron County Education
Tony Kociela
Sheryl Stratton
Andrea Nelson
Chris Quick
Nicholas Willis
Lisa Davis
Article PDF link: https://ironcountytoday.com/clients/ironcountytoday/August-14-2019.pdf