Rebecca Foster
Coverage of Rebecca Foster in the Nexus archive.
- School boards exist to serve the public, not silence it
The article criticizes the Champlain Valley School District board for failing to engage the public transparently on an artificial turf project, including refusing to allow questions for their consultant and withholding a memorandum of understanding. It references a 2019 Brattleboro case where community debate led to shelving a similar proposal, emphasizing the need for accountability in multimillion-dollar decisions involving environmental and health risks.
- When did school boards stop answering to the public?
Residents of the Champlain Valley School District presented arguments against an artificial turf proposal at a school board meeting, but the board refused to address public questions, conducted a closed-door session, and approved the proposal without explanations. The decision faced criticism for lacking transparency, ignoring public preferences for natural grass, and failing to provide financial or safety justifications.