9/11 — 25 Years Later. Never Forget.

Some days in your life never really become the past. For me, September 11, 2001, is one of them.

I can still remember where I was, what I was doing, and the faces of the people around me as we realized our nation was under attack. I was serving as Director of Public Affairs, NORAD, that morning. Suddenly, the responsibility our team carried took on a meaning none of us could have imagined when we reported for duty.

Our job was to help keep the American public informed during a time of extraordinary uncertainty. Twenty-five years later, I remain immensely proud of the military and civilian professionals I served alongside that day—and of the countless Americans who answered the call in the days, months, and years that followed.

Why must we never forget?

We remember the lives. Nearly 3,000 people went to work, boarded airplanes, reported for duty, or simply began an ordinary Tuesday morning and never came home.

We remember the courage. First responders, service members, and ordinary citizens demonstrated extraordinary bravery, sacrifice, and compassion when our nation needed them most.

We remember what united us. In the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, Americans stood together. Differences seemed smaller. Service mattered. Country mattered. Each other mattered.

Twenty-five years later, those lessons still matter.

Today, I remember the lives lost. I remember those who served. And I remember the people I stood beside at NORAD on one of the most consequential days in our nation’s history.

I will never forget.

Michael Perini, Woodland Park

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Give them an F

If you have kids in the Woodland Park School District, imagine looking them in the face as you toss a coin on their educational fate. A Sept. 2 article details lower CMAS scores (again) exposing that WPSD is delivering less than a coin-flip’s chance that our kids will meet educational standards.

This is NOT the time for a tax increase to increase funding of a broken model that doesn’t deliver; this is the time to try something new. Vouchers? Private school? Home School? Let’s try something different to save our kids’ opportunity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results; our kids deserve better than a coin-flip’s chance. The current system is consistently not delivering acceptable results; our kids cannot wait for incremental improvements. When I was in public school, a score below 50% was an obvious F.

Steve Walsh, Woodland Park

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How WPSD funds Merit Academy

There has been confusion about how Woodland Park School District funds Merit Academy. Colorado law and the contract provide the clearest answer.

Colorado Revised Statutes § 22-30.5-112(2)(a)(I) states that, as part of the charter contract, the charter school and district must agree on funding and any services the district will provide. The law does not require equal one-twelfth payments, so the payment terms established in the contract matter.

Section 8.2(A) of the contract states that per-pupil revenue will be provided in monthly installments on the 25th, “subject to annual appropriation and the District’s receipt of the funding.” It requires monthly payments, but it does not require those payments to be equal or require the district to advance money from its reserves prior to receiving it from the state.

Proportionate funding is based on Merit’s percentage of the district’s total student enrollment. Because Merit serves approximately one-third of the district’s students, it receives the corresponding share of applicable per-pupil revenue received by the district, subject to contractual adjustments, deductions, and services. If the district’s incoming revenue varies from month to month, Merit’s payment may also vary. Monthly does not necessarily mean equal.

Throughout this school year, Merit has been receiving its proportionate share of the revenues received by the district. Varying monthly payments do not mean funding is being withheld. Beginning with the law and contract can help our community discuss this issue accurately and constructively while keeping the focus on fair funding for every student.

Dana Kramer, Woodland Park

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Four comments about Sept. 2 Courier

First: “Teller County records lower CMAS scores.” I see the schools in Woodland Park improving despite the test scores. Test scores don’t tell all. As a retired Educator, I know that some grade levels can skew results one way of the other. Given the new healthier attitude of the Superintendent, I see many more positives than negatives.

Second: The Police incident of Aug. 25 with 2 State Troopers injured was well written and informative. I am so sad that the Officers were injured! The person that committed these crimes seemed like a very disturbed person who should have been in jail long ago. Had he not been given “probation” for prior violent incidents, this possibly could have been avoided. And this is one time when the outcome was called for (when he was shot and killed). He was not an innocent victim like we have seen from ICE cases.

Third: So Sad about the Hungry Bear fire. Are you allowed to disclose which Insurance Company is dragging their feet? I’d like to know. Insurance rates keep jumping up and up and seems like their pay-out is getting harder to get!

Fourth: The Letter to Editor written by Ed Beirsmith was well done and I totally agree with him! Our current president is friends with key Communist Dictators NOT the liberal left (as the August 19 piece implied). This Administration puts out lies and deceit like no other in the history of our country.

Pam Deck, Florissant