(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

I’m a parent of a third grader at Williamstown Elementary, and I hope you’ll join me in voting against Amendments 2 and 4.

Every parent I know wants what’s best for their kids. For me, that means good schools and strong and safe communities. I love our local library here in Williamstown, our incredible playground at Tomlinson Park, and our strong community-led kids soccer league, all of which add value to my life in West Virginia with my family.

But we can’t always trust partisan legislators to deliver on what’s best for us. We know some things need to change, but Amendments 2 and 4 will make things worse, not better.

Instead of letting locals and education experts make decisions about our schools, the state legislature will step in. Local school boards, parents, and teachers will be pushed aside so that those same legislators can control what books our kids read and what topics teachers can teach.

These amendments will take $124 million of local funding that pays for our schools away to pay for tax cuts to corporations — mostly ones from out of state.

None of this will help my stepson succeed in school or in life. It can only make things worse. Vote no on Amendments 2 and 4 to protect students, schools, and local control.

Meryl Williams Clark

Williamstown