Dear Editor,

As President of CUPE Local 1260 (Langley School District Support Staff), I am surprised to learn that unions are now running the show in Langley [Beaumont loss will be costly, Jan. 24 Letters, Langley Advance].

What happened is that there was an election in November in which Langley voters chose trustees for the Board of Education.

If the unions were running the show, all of our students would have the support they need to be successful, facilities would be in tip-top shape, accountability would be very high at the board office, we could decide who is hired and fired, and we could give ourselves a much-deserved raise.

Seriously, as a union leader, I am pleased that board chair Wendy Johnson wants to share information with the public. It was refreshing to read [Beaumont leaves admidst controversy, Jan. 19, Langley Advance], "Johnson admitted there is still a great deal unknown and there are staff privacy issues to consider, but said more information will be made public when possible."

The only way the public will have confidence in Langley School District is for the board to dialogue with partner groups and community members openly and honestly.

Donna Mason, CUPE Local 1260

[Note: A fuller version of this letter and others are online at www.langleyadvance.com.]