Questions for school

I submitted an open letter request for written responses to the Hot Springs Board of Trustees and Superintendent on September 10, 2024. My request addressed issues concerning the budget, school audits, spending controls and other items.

I tried to get it added to the agenda for the September 12, 2024, board meeting but was told that it was within 48 hours of the meeting. I was told by Superintendent Chuinard and one board member to submit it for the correspondence section of the upcoming board meeting.

The board meeting was held and lo and behold my request for written responses was not brought up at all. When I inquired as to why it was not brought up, I received the response copied here:

“Your email with your request was forwarded to individual trustees and board legal counsel on Tuesday. As it was not received in at least 48 hours in advance of the board meeting, it was not included in the correspondence section of the agenda.

Respectfully,

Gerald Chouinard”

I was hopeful that I would receive the written responses from the board and superintendent in time to add them to this letter to inform voters of the responses.

I am writing this at 7:50 p.m. September 22, 2024, and as of this minute I have not received any response from board members or superintendent.

I am reasonably certain that I won’t receive any written responses nor my public information requests that I paid $1,220 for before the closing of this election.

As a second-generation graduate of Hot Springs Schools and a concerned taxpayer these questions need to be addressed going forward to avoid the pitfalls that are there to see in black and white on the district website.

Scott Viegut, Hot Springs