Teacher disappointed in timing of school mill levy coverage

Letter to the Editor,

We have been disappointed in The Western News editor’s choice to publish such negativity toward Libby public schools.

We feel The Western News did not attempt to tell both sides of the May school levy. The article published in Friday, May 3.

To publish my name attached to my salary in larger font then the rest of the article was in poor taste. I do know it is public right to know, but after 32 years of teaching my salary falls in the norm of teaching.

I would like to bring to your attention that the first 25 years of teaching I made a lot less than the average person with a BA, and I often had to tell myself that I was doing it to help children. I have taken more than 90 extra credits to stay current plus many other courses for no credit, on my own time which I funded 99 percent, this includes travel and motels.

I have for years spent $500 to $2,000 a year for items for my classroom and students out of my salary.

I have painted classrooms and even had my husband repair desks and furniture on weekends.

This summer, which is fairly typical for me, I am attending four different sessions, total time is two weeks.

Yes, I claim a tax deduction, but a self-employed business expense would go further.

I would also like to say your new blog is mostly full of comments that are not worth the ink to print it.

— Gary and Sandy Elmore

Libby