BVSD recommends firing Mesa teacher
ACLU weighs in on parents' right to public comment

by Ron Bain

Mesa Elementary Teacher Russ Karsten, suspended for "passing a note" to a fellow teacher that contained a misperceived, joking "threat," has 60 days to convince the Boulder Valley School District to retain him.

At Tuesday night's meeting of the BVSD Board of Directors, Superintendent George F. Garcia recommended Karsten's termination. Representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union were not allowed to speak, although some parents from Mesa Elementary spoke, according to the BVSD public information office.

ACLU Chairman Barry Satlow said Wednesday that his organization is primarily concerned about "the right of parents to speak during public participation periods" of school board meetings, not about whether a joke constitutes grounds for firing. Originally, a group of concerned Mesa parents and Satlow reported being told that they would not be allowed to speak at the board meeting.

Karsten was suspended after his close friend and co-worker, Priscilla Kohn, unknowingly reported him to Mesa Principal Susan Henderson after receiving a note that said, "You will die." The two teachers had reportedly been humorously discussing their fate if CSAP scores were low. Kohn reportedly told Karsten the school district might "kill" her.

The school called police, who took no action after Karsten confessed immediately to writing the note.

He is now facing "a 60-day process" which could result in his termination, said a BVSD spokeswoman. Karsten has retained an attorney. His decision to hire counsel was cited by Superintendent Garcia at a May 17 meeting with Mesa Elementary parents as the reason Karsten could not return to Mesa this school year.

"If they're punishing him because he retained counsel, that's not proper due process," Satlow remarked. The ACLU will continue to monitor Karsten's termination process for additional free speech violations, the ACLU chair added.

In a letter released Tuesday, Satlow demanded that the Mesa Elementary parents be allowed a voice at the school board meeting.

"The parents are asking to speak to the board. The board does not have to speak to them. Neither the board members nor staff are in any way compelled to respond to the comments they hear, and a disclaimer before, during or after public participation would dispel any imputation that board members share the views of the parents," Satlow wrote.

"They don't have to provide that forum," he added Wednesday, "but they can't restrict the content of the forum if they do provide it."

Apparently, the ACLU's intervention worked because there was some public participation at the Tuesday night school board meeting, the spokeswoman said.

The concerned Mesa Elementary parents wrote a lengthy letter to school board members citing a previous conflict between Karsten and Assistant Superintendent Veronica Benavidez, which they believed influenced the superintendent's decision. The incident two years ago involved confusion over Karsten's contract.

Karsten is beloved by his students, who showered school board members with letters saying the teacher helps students overcome fears of learning, neutralizes bullies on the school grounds, and devotes time and energy to improving the lives of his third-grade students.

Dozens of students and parents packing signs and balloons converged on the school district's administrative offices on May 21, demanding that Karsten be reinstated.

They're still waiting.

Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com

Longmont gas station faces demolition
Residents rally to save historic building

by John Peabody

Jack Kerouac might have lain down on the front lawn of Johnson's Corner gas station, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and Ken Pratt Boulevard, later writing about it in his novel On the Road. Regardless, the historical importance of the Johnson's Corner building is considered by some to be high. Built in 1937 by the imaginative and innovative architect Eugene G. Groves, the building stands as a unique relic of the early days of poured, cast and reinforced concrete construction as well as the Art Deco-Pueblo style that Groves is known for. Johnson's Corner though is perhaps remembered more fondly as a Latino-friendly eatery in the 1940s and 1950s.

After 65 years of history, Johnson's Corner is now threatened by an expansion of the left-turn lane for Highway 119. The extension of 119 will allow drivers to bypass downtown Longmont. The building faces certain destruction if members of Historic Boulder, a group that is dedicated to preserving the historical, architectural, visual and historic heritage of Boulder County, cannot raise the $100,000 needed to move the concrete structure to one of three potential new sites.

Members of Historic Boulder also face a tight deadline as the stay for demolition lasts until June 1. The new owner of the property has allowed an extra six days past the deadline before he plans on demolition.

Last Thursday members of Historic Boulder held a demonstration at Johnson's Corner to raise public awareness about the issue.

"We feel there were a lot of things that went on behind the scenes that the public didn't know," says Douglas Johnson, president-elect of Historic Boulder.

According to Gray, Historic Boulder has raised 75 percent of the money needed to make the move possible. They have also secured the support of two building companies who will not require payment for one year. Although moving a concrete building can be complicated, members of Historic Boulder are confident. Johnson's Corner has three potential new locations. The first possibility is the eclectic community of Prospect in Longmont. Historic Boulder is also talking to the Dougherty Museum, as well as RTD for a potential home. RTD is interested in the building for potential use as a future light-rail station.

Although Johnson's Corner is historically important, socially and architecturally "the building simply stands in the way of perceived progress for the City of Longmont," Gray said.

Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com

Feminist icon visits Boulder
Gloria Steinem speaks at fund-raiser for women's health clinic

by Pamela White

Gloria Steinem, whose name is synonymous with American feminism, paid a visit to a private luncheon fund-raiser in Boulder Wednesday afternoon. The event raised money for the Boulder Valley Women's Health Center, a local, independent women's health clinic.

A dedicated proponent of reproductive rights, Steinem patiently posed for photographs with admirers before the luncheon, the clinic's third annual "Lunch with..." event. Previous speakers include Jane Fonda and Joan Boryshenko.

"Ms. Steinem was a perfect keynote speaker for our event, since her efforts to assure that women have access to all reproductive health services is so consistent with our own mission," said Susan Levy, executive director of BVWHC. "Gloria is very concerned with empowering women, so that each woman can then make responsible reproductive choices, and so is the BVWHC."

The fund-raiser is intended to help the clinic recover money lost two years ago. State law prohibits taxpayer money going to any organization which provides abortion services. Although abortions were provided by a separate entity at the time, the state decided the health clinic could receive no funding for its gynecological and family-planning services because the abortion clinic was housed in the same building. Since then, the two organizations have merged again.

"It's obviously a denial of reproductive freedom," said Steinem referring the state's decision to cut off funds. "For me, reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right like freedom of speech. To subsidize one choice but not the other is coercive. To subsidize birth but not abortion is coercive. It's not up to the government to decide whether or when we have children."

The clinic provides a full range of gynecological and family-planning services, like mammograms, STD testing, and contraceptive prescriptions, in addition to abortion services. The center has specific services for teen-age women and young men. Those who cannot pay receive services on a sliding scale. Last year, clinic practitioners performed about 700 abortions.

"Many women's clinics, but perhaps especially this one because it started as part of the women's movement in the early '70s, is a model of what the whole health-care system could be," Steinem said. "It deserves our support."

Steinem founded Ms. Magazine in 1972 and was one of its editors for 15 years. She helped found the Women's Action Alliance, a national center for information and advocacy in such areas as nonsexist, multiracial children's education and communication among women's groups. She also helped found the National Women's Political Caucus, a non-partisan organization devoted to advancing equality for women of all races. She is currently president of Voters for Choice. In 1993, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.