2 Wednesday, August 18, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon O P I N I O N Sisters schools uphold education standards Letters to the Editor… The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer¾s name, address, and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond, or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday. s That small-town feeling To the Editor: Having lived in the Sisters Country for nearly two decades. I, like many, have seen much growth. We often don9t see as many familiar faces as we used to. The local music and charity event this week at the Community Garden made me feel at home again with a happy, small crowd of all ages enjoying fellowship amongst the beautiful sunset mountain views and amazing musical artistry. Thank you Sisters Community Garden members for hosting this event and helping me find our little town of Sisters once again in my heart. Patti Janego s s Tensions at School Board meeting To the Editor: I have never written a letter to the edi- tor before, but after reading the article in The Nugget (August 11) about the August 4 Sisters School Board meeting, I feel com- pelled to share positive experiences about mask wearing in schools. My daughter is a student in the Sisters School District. Comprehensive Distance Learning was quite challenging for her. It was isolating and confusing. When she was able to return to school, even wearing See LETTERS on page 8 Sisters Weather Forecast Courtesy of the National Weather Service, Pendleton, Oregon Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday August 18 • Mostly Sunny August 19 • Sunny August 20 • Mostly Sunny August 21 • Sunny 77/49 82/50 77/46 76/46 Sunday Monday Tuesday August 22 • Sunny August 23 • Sunny August 24 • Sunny 78/43 78/45 83/51 The Nugget Newspaper, LLC Website: www.nuggetnews.com 442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759 Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com Postmaster: Send address changes to The Nugget Newspaper, P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759. Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon. Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius Production Manager: Leith Easterling Creative Director: Jess Draper Community Marketing Partner: Vicki Curlett Classifieds & Circulation: Angela Lund Proofreader: Kit Tosello Owner: J. Louis Mullen The Nugget is mailed to residents within the Sisters School District; subscriptions are available outside delivery area. Third-class postage: one year, $55; six months (or less), $30. First-class postage: one year, $95; six months, $65. Published Weekly. ©2021 The Nugget Newspaper, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is pro- hibited. All advertising which appears in The Nugget is the property of The Nugget and may not be used without explicit permission. The Nugget Newspaper, LLC. assumes no liability or responsibility for information contained in advertisements, articles, stories, lists, calendar etc. within this publication. All submissions to The Nugget Newspaper will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyrighting purposes and subject to The Nugget Newspaper’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially, that all rights are currently available, and that the material in no way infringes upon the rights of any person. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return or safety of artwork, photos, or manuscripts. Red sunset… Sisters endured several days of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. It made for some intense and eerie sunsets. PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief There9s a very good reason that Governor Kate Brown wants to avoid talking about her stealth signing of Senate Bill 744. It9s indefensible. The bill drops requirements that Oregon9s high school graduates demonstrate they can read, write, or do math at a high school level through the 2023- 24 school year. There9s a tell in the fact that Brown did not hold a signing ceremony, and her office did not issue a press release about the signing of the bill. The State didn9t enter the bill into the leg- islative database until 15 days after it was signed. Perhaps the governor recognizes that this move is an embarrassment. It lets down the people of Oregon, who have a right to expect that their tax dollars devoted to education actu- ally provide education. It is an insult to the teachers who strive, often under trying condi- tions, to improve their students9 capabilities and performance. It is an insult to all those students who strive to better themselves. And, perhaps worst of all, it sends the message to struggling students that we don9t believe they can succeed. According to The Orego- nian, Brown9s Communica- tions Deputy Charles Boyle said in an emailed statement that