Letters: West Bonner County School District made a terrible mistake with Durst | Opinion

Bad call in West Bonner

Congratulations to the West Bonner School District Board of Trustees for their insightful selection of Branden Durst to be their organization’s educational leader.

A controversial but gutsy call.

They have hired an educational leader their teachers can admire and count on to provide guidance in all areas of their instructional practice. Despite his lack of any meaningful experience in a K-12 setting as a classroom teacher or administrator, Mr. Durst, their new superintendent, will prove to be a credible and effective source of support to Priest River educators as they perform the critical aspects of their job– curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, classroom management, special education accommodations, etc.

I can hear it now: “I’ve never helped write an Individual Education Plan but this is what worked for me in the Idaho Legislature when I switched parties.” or “I’ve never taught a kid to read but let me share with you some of my Idaho Freedom Foundation Senior Education Analyst white papers.”

The students of West Bonner are fortunate to have their futures placed in the skilled hands of such an accomplished educator.

Let’s go Branden!

Timothy Rosandick, Caldwell

Build a healthy environment

Growing communities are compelled to make uncomfortable decisions like that we face in our zoning laws. Rarely does a perfect solution exist. I do not have children of my own, but I work as a family physician and at moments like these the health of our younger generations is my chief concern. We have been slow to react to a changing world and the effects on our youth are apparent in disparate but interconnected trends: isolation, depression, asthma, screen time, obesity, poor self-esteem. These are the manifestations of a changing environment that promotes unhealthy lifestyles and climate change. To turn the tide we have to actively imagine a world where healthy, interconnected living is built into the landscape.

What are the daily qualities of life that will matter most to our children over a lifetime? Walkability, connectivity, affordability, access to nature and recreation, climate stability. Belonging and inclusion. Boise’s zoning code rewrite is an opportunity - a forward-thinking plan that prioritizes health, environment, community, and the natural beauty of the Treasure Valley. Yes, there are tradeoffs inherent in change, but we can set our children up for success where it matters most with the decisions we make today.

Tyler McChane, Boise

Puberty blockers dropped in some countries

In “LGBTQ+ people struggle against right-wing war on legal rights,” the LA Times reporter says state bans on “gender-affirming care” targets “common treatments – including reversible puberty blockers – that medical experts say are vital” for treatment of gender dysphoria.

In fact there is no evidence that puberty blockers are “reversible.” In February 2022, Sweden, hardly a right wing bastion, decided to limit access to puberty blockers for those under 18 to only “exceptional cases” and in research settings. Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare deemed that “the risks of puberty suppressing treatment with GnRH-analogues and gender-affirming hormonal treatment currently outweigh the possible benefits.” The judgment was based on the “lack of reliable scientific evidence concerning the efficacy and safety” of the treatments.

John Caldwell, Meridian

Simpson should support gun control

Questions for Mike Simpson: Your opinion published June 11 regarding immigration states, “We can’t sit by while young people die and communities are torn apart with grief.” Why are you willing to “sit by” when it comes to common sense gun legislation? As you stated regarding immigration, “Idaho families, farmers and communities face the consequences of failure to address these problems every day, and we must find the political courage to make real, lasting change...”. Do you believe the need for live shooter drills in our schools has to be an acceptable cost for living in the U.S.? Why are you unwilling to support and work for gun safety measures that the majority of Americans want to see, including Republicans?

Donna Carlson, Boise