Letter to Fullerton Teachers

By Chris Thompson

A letter to the teachers of the Fullerton School District explaining that they have received false information about me and my positions.

My name is Chris Thompson and I am a parent of 4 young children, two of whom are students at Beechwood Elementary. I am not anti-teacher. The President of your Union, Mimi Gaudette has chosen to turn the tone of the race for Fullerton School Board ugly by telling two damaging, and I believe libelous lies about me in a letter to you dated September 18, 2000.

In this letter Mimi incorrectly states, "There is a third candidate, Chris Thompson, who declined to be interviewed by our PAC committee." That is unequivocally false. I was absolutely willing to meet with the PAC committee. I will quote from an article in the September 28, Fullerton Tribune by Barbara Giasone where Margo Ellison, PAC Chairman admits that I did not refuse to meet with the PAC. The article states, "Thompson said he called PAC representative Margo Ellison to cancel his Aug. 23 interview meeting with the committee on Aug. 23 because of "un unbreakable business commitment." "Margo said she didn't know if there was another time available," Thompson said. Ellison, who was at the press conference said she "surmised" Thompson didn't want to be interviewed because he said, "Let's talk now."

Margo said there was no other time to meet with me and I offered to give her any information that she needed right then and there. Mimi Gaudette clearly wished to give you the impression that I was unwilling to share my opinions and philosophies with the Union.

In a complete fabrication, Mimi additionally stated in her letter that, "He has publicly stated that he wants to eliminate the Teachers' Union." The statement itself is a lie of fact and its' meaning is precisely opposite to my views. I have stated more than once that any serious attempt to "bust" the union would cause an educational tragedy in Fullerton for the children that would have to live through it. I support your right to be a part of a union.

I hope that you take these lies that have been told to you either out of direct malice towards me or out of willful negligence seriously. If I were a dues paying member of any organization I would hold its' President to a high standard of honesty especially in her communications to me.

I support the Teachers of this District. I will fight for the tools and materials that you need to meet the tough new state standards. I believe that it is inexcusable that we have not tried hard to achieve a 20 to 1 student teacher ration in both Kindergarten and the third grade. I too, believe that we must pay a competitive wage and benefits to continue to attract excellent teachers to this district. Please understand that there are great needs in this district as represented by the $77,000,000 price tag placed on the current facility needs of our district by the District's own facility needs sub-committee during last nights board meeting.

Please consider supporting me, as I believe that I will help the district meet its great needs more quickly than any other board candidate or current trustee could.

Sincerely,

Chris Thompson, Involved Fullerton Parent and School Board Candidate

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