Dear Ms. Hayne,

I request that the Ames Tribune print a retraction of your editorial in yesterday’s paper. You can get a copy of the CD for the June 6 meeting.

Your statement, “The willingness of this board to demolish five homes to make Roosevelt a more viable school location calls the sincerity of that argument into question.” This statement is factually incorrect and misleading. Where did you see in any record that the board was willing to demolish any homes? John Hascall and I both firmly rejected the idea of acquiring any properties and no one on the board spoke in favor of acquiring properties.

Your assertion that board members would take the initial report of the consultant and follow it is irresponsible and incorrect. In addition to a lack of support for acquiring properties, board members expressed that the square footage proposed at each site was excessive. The vote taken that night was on the sites and the number of sections for each. Again, if you watched the meeting you should have realized this.

You also stated, “No, this plan doesn’t make sense, unless you see it for what it is: a manipulation of the facilities planning process by board members dedicated to one goal, the reopening of Roosevelt Elementary School. It is no coincidence that three board members live within blocks of the school and were vocal opponents to its closing.”

Please show documentation of this alleged “manipulation of the facilities process.” You have accused board members of unethical behavior which did not occur. I would like to see your documentation of this “manipulation of the facilities planning process.”

I have forwarded this to other media outlets because I know at least one uses the information from the Ames Tribune to facilitate its coverage. It is imperative that accurate information gets to the community.

Your job as an editor entitles you to give your opinion but that comes with a grave responsibility to the public-the responsibility to ensure that people have accurate information. Whether an editor agrees or disagrees with a position, he or she should present the cases of both sides or at the very least, base opinions on accurate facts.

I have included other media outlets because I believe that one of them uses your information to facilitate its coverage. Getting accurate information to the public is essential.