Letter to the editor: Nepotism in Yough School District

What is nepotism? Nepotism is the practice of promoting or hiring relatives or friends, often over more qualified external candidates. In family-owned business, such decisions are expected and make sense. However, in public institutions, hiring should always involve finding the best qualified candidate through an open and transparent process.

At Yough School Board’s August meeting, the Yough School District hired the daughter of the board president. The position had over 70 applicants, and the board’s most qualified candidate coincidentally was the recently graduated daughter of the board president.

As a community member, I feel the board owes the taxpayers an explanation. The board should demonstrate how an open and transparent process was used to provide our children the best possible education, and not advancing their own personal agendas.

At the October meeting, I call on the board to adopt a nepotism policy that establishes protocols for making sure qualified candidates are hired regardless of circumstances.

Jason Cooper

West Newton