Re: Tony Sereno’s Oct. 27 letter, “Loosening union’s grip”:

I was outraged by Mr. Sereno’s vicious attack on the teachers of Simi Valley, the Simi Educators Association and Mr. Arleigh Kidd. In it, Mr. Sereno claimed that school board members must “meet the demands of the SEA.” I would ask everyone to call school board members, including Greg Stratton, and ask if SEA, or any of its members, have ever demanded they do anything. We have school board members in Simi Valley who listen to all points of view before making their independent decisions on matters.

For Mr. Sereno to say that Mr. Stratton saw his campaign donation as a payoff is insulting to everyone. That is like saying Simi Valley City Council members see their campaign donations from developers as payoffs.

Mr. Sereno claims that Mr. Kidd puts his own interests before those of the school district. Yet on the night that Mr. Kidd announced he was leaving the district to take a job with the California Teachers Association, Mr. Stratton stated publicly that Mr. Kidd had good common sense and that he always put the needs of the children and the well-being of all in the district first.

Mr. Kidd also received an Honorary Service Award from the PTA for his dedication to Simi Valley schools and students.

When Mr. Kidd asks that people vote no on Propositions 74, 75 and 76, he is doing so for the good of our schools.

— Ginny Jannotto, Past President, Simi Educators Association,
Simi Valley