Giving all sides an equal voice builds credibility in newspapers

By Michelle Nedved

Sometimes we have to give the people a chance to speak, even when we don’t agree with what they’re saying, or know that what they’re saying is false.

We’re located on the border of Washington and Idaho, so we cover Bonner County and the West Bonner County School District in Idaho, which is going through a very tough time. Three of the five-person board of trustees – including the chairman – seem to believe there is something nefarious going on with the bookkeeping, but can’t quite explain what. They’ve been in office for nearly two years now and have been threatening a forensic audit for about the last year, without actually doing it.

has very deep pockets and doesn’t need a levy.

Now they’re facing a school year with no sports at any level, the loss of 30-plus classified and certified staff and a public so angry they pack every board meeting out the front doors of the building.

Not to mention the board hiring a controversial former employee of the Idaho Freedom Foundation – whose ideology includes the dismantling of public education – as district superintendent, even though he doesn’t hold the credentials needed to serve as a superintendent in Idaho.

The chairman says very little during board meetings, other than pounding his gavel and yelling “point of order.” The public raises concerns about money he wants to spend on unnamed lawyers, his and his cohorts’ refusal to approve a budget after a two-hour hearing where they raised zero concerns or questions about said budget, and these so far unfounded allegations of financial misconduct.

lengthy statement and didn’t want it taken out of context. So we ran it as a guest opinion. Most of what is he has said is not true. He claims that the recall is because some of the “oligarchy” doesn’t want a forensic audit done to prove financial malfeasance. Multiple times over the course of the last several months, people opposed to the board have said in public meetings that they should do a forensic audit rather than threaten to do one so the issue can be laid to rest and the district can get back to the business of educating kids.

He also claimed that had the levy passed, some families in the district stood to “experience significant economic gains.” Again, not true. While it pained us to run a column that we do not agree with, it did give a clear picture of what he is thinking, which in turns gives the public a better understanding of how to approach the current board of trustees.

Officers: Michelle Nedved, President; Donna Etchey, 1st Vice President; Sean Flaherty, 2nd Vice President; Steve Powell, Past President; Trustees: Roger Harnack, Teresa Myers, Rudi Alcott, Matt Winters, Staci Baird and Bob Richardson.

THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER is the offical publication of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. It is published monthly by WNPA, PO Box 389, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

Fred Obee: Executive Director: 360-344-2938 Email: fredobee@wnpa.com

Janay Collins, Member Services Director: 360-344-2938. Email: ads@wnpa.com

They didn’t support the running of a much needed levy, and while they allowed it to be put before voters, it failed, mostly due to misinformation and this vague allegation that the district secretly

He sits quiet, with little more than an “Ok.”

He and the board vice-chair are now facing a recall.

When we reached out to him for comment last week, he sent a

It also got people talking about and reading The Miner and it gives us credibility, that we were open to letting him speak his mind.

Michelle Nedved is the publisher of the Newport Miner and this year’s WNPA president.

Nominate people to serve on WNPA board

Each year, WNPA members have the opportunity to nominate people for positions on the WNPA Board.

While board members can make nominations, anyone working at a WNPA member newspaper can nominate someone for a board position. Nominees then stand for election at the business meeting at the start of the annual convention.

To nominate someone to the board, gather get at least 10 regular members to agree and submit that nomination to the board.

The WNPA bylaws say a call for nominations shall be published in the Association’s bulletin, with the final call at least 45 days prior to the annual Fall Convention.

This is that notice. Please submit nominations by July 31.

Board members are asked to be familiar with the organization’s history and its programs, awards and services. and to actively take part in WNPA sales programs.

This includes promoting our 2x2 and statewide classified and display ad program.

The WNPA board meets four times each year, and we provide those meeting dates in advance. Members should put those dates on their calendar and try to attend all four.

WNPA has a number of committees and board members are expected to be active on them. Committes plan the convention, promote advertsing programs, and set the rules for the Better Newspaper Contest.

Attendance at our annual convention is important, and board members are asked to attend and participate.