Diane Vespa, parent of two Kellar Primary School students, would like to meet with representatives of the Peoria Public Schools Board of Education to discuss her concerns about the board’s decision to shorten the school day. Here’s the shocking response she received from Board Member Debbie Wolfmeyer:

Mrs. Vespa – I must respectfully decline your invitation to meet with you. It is not my role as a Board member to meet with individuals or groups. None of us as an individual Board member has any authority. Our authority comes as we work as a body. Also, I am not an educator. Therefore, it is important that any ideas, solutions, etc that are presented go through the administration so that they can assess them and report to us. Now I will say that I ask a lot of questions about anything that is presented to us; more questions probably than the administration would like to answer. And I don’t stop asking questions until I am satisfied that I have all the information I need to make a decision. That is what I have done on the current issue. I have asked every question that has been presented to me. That information helped form my decision. If you have any new information you would like presented to the administration, I would be happy to forward it. I respect everyone’s right to their opinion and their right to voice that opinion. Thank you for the obvious time and passion you have for our District.

Debbie Wolfmeyer
District #150 School Board

Attention District 3 2 voters: Wolfmeyer has just announced that she will not meet or talk with you, her constituents, about your concerns. She believes that your concerns should be submitted to the Superintendent, and then she will make her decisions based on what the Superintendent says — i.e., whether he thinks your concerns are valid or not. Let me repeat: Wolfmeyer has just announced that she makes her decisions without any consideration of her constituents’ views; only the administration’s views are considered. She will, however, out of the goodness of her heart, forward your concerns to the administration. But don’t bother asking to meet her face to face.

Remember that in 2011 when she suddenly decides it might be a good idea to meet with individuals and groups in order to get reelected. Remind her that it’s not her role to meet with her constituents. Then vote for someone who believes it is his or her role to meet with constituents and listen to their concerns, and then represent them on the board.