Dear Editor,

After reading the article concerning the Bellaire Education Association in the March 24 issue of The Times Leader, I felt compelled to write a letter concerning the pending levy issue on the ballot. I had to laugh when I read one high school teacher said the “students always come first.”

This must be a new position on his part because actions speak louder than words and believe me I know one student-athlete that didn’t come first. It was my youngest son’s senior year at Bellaire and he had torn a ligament in his knee against John Marshall in football.

Unable to walk on it, he was forced to miss some school. Well as it turned out, he had missed a test in that teacher’s class. That teacher never said a word to my son, my wife or me, he kept it to himself. When baseball season started, we were informed that my son was ineligible to play because that teacher gave him an “F” for the previous nine weeks for missing the test. We requested a meeting where the teacher said it was impossible for my son to make-up the test, according to him it was his own policy, therefore the “F” would stand.

I then requested a meeting with the Bellaire Board of Education. At this meeting we were informed that any teacher could have their own policy regarding making up tests. Fifty teachers could have 50 different policies. At this meeting one board member was rolling his eyes while I argued on behalf of my son while another had a smile on his face. It didn’t help that one member had a grandson on the team whose playing time increased by a huge amount with my son out.

To make a long story short no one involved with Bellaire Schools would do anything to help me so I hired attorneys who took it to court on our behalf. Imagine our shock when in court the teacher in question had no problem letting my son retake the test. Of course by this time he had missed half the season which he will never get back and we had to pay out of our own pockets for the attorneys.

Was he putting the students first a few years back when he was threatening to strike during football season? So please don’t believe any propaganda coming out of this individual’s mouth.

On another issue why is it that people who never attended Bellaire High or live in Bellaire have personal use of the weight room like they own it but people who live in Bellaire and played for Bellaire aren’t allowed to use it. One ex-coach uses it on weekends, at nights, it’s like his own personal weight room. If you are in anyway associated with Bellaire Schools or the spouse or friend of someone who is congratulations you have access to your own weight room that is heated and lighted by the taxpayers of the Bellaire School District.

Current Athletic Director Monte Miller tried to correct this but was over ruled by the administration. Maybe Mr. Scott can get some of these people to vote for the levy, oh sorry they can’t. What a lot of nerve these individuals have asking people of this district the majority of whom are on a fixed income or low income to support a 12 plus mill levy. I guarantee you I won’t be voting for it.

Vote no on the Bellaire School levy.

Lou Fisher

Bellaire