No wonder Rick Althoff failed in his bid for a seat on the Yankton School Board: he's not very good at listening to people. He convened in Yankton Monday night, ostensibly to discuss "facts, feelings, healing, and education" in the context of the pending property tax opt-out vote May 24. It turned out that he was the only speaker at the lectern. And when fellow citizens attempted to introduce their viewpoints, Althoff essentially told them their views weren't welcome:
At one point, long-time YSD teacher Norm West got up and started explaining how the current insurance program evolved. After listening for a few seconds, Althoff thanked West for his interest in the event and the "history lesson," and asked him to sit down.
When former YSD school board member Barb Law asked to clarify issues that Althoff had made as factual references, he allowed her the microphone. After she made her point, which challenged Althoff's interpretations, he asked her to sit down. When she later asked again to clarify another issue, he informed her that it was not the time to do so and asked her to sit down [Shauna Marlette, "Opt-Out Summit Targets Finances, Stirs Challenges," Yankton Press and Dakotan, 2011.05.17].
So much for the "healing" the meeting announcement advertised.
Althoff seems confused on the meaning of summit. Usually the term refers to a meeting of government leaders. Even if we expand the definition, summit would usually entail bringing many people to the table for an open discussion. Althoff apparently thought it meant playing king of the hill: climb to the peak, then kick off anyone who tries to join you.