To the Editor:

I would like to thank Jennifer Padilla and Dan Cruson, Jr,for showing the courage to attend the PTA forum, in spite of the charged political environment. These are trying times, and maintaining a public presence in the face of vocal and passionate opposition is just what we need, particularly on our Board of Education. As many of us who watch politics know, public Board of Education meetings throughout the country have become a battleground of ideas. Whoever serves in that space must have the fortitude to stand by their responsibilities in the face of adversity.

As a parent and a concerned citizen I appreciate that the PTAs maintain an open forum that allows me to not only to question attending candidates, but to see how they respond to the questions of others, including questions I hadn’t thought of, and the questions of those who do not agree with me.

Linda O’Sullivan

Sandy Hook