In response to Benjamin Wright’s letter last week:

– Why can’t Superintendent Soltman present information concerning the lawsuit if Kelly Wright and her family have chosen to do so. Should one side of a case remain mute while the other blankets the airwaves with their opinions?

– Regarding the Independent Investigation…someone needs to pay for independent investigations and generally that would be either or both sides of a case. To say that to pay for it immediately taints the ruling would make no investigation valid…unless paid for by a third party which mostly doesn’t happen. What third party wants to spend thousands unless they have a reason to do so? And to have a reason invalidates the investigation according to this logic. Independent means independent and not subject to prejudice no matter who pays.

– I am pleased Mr. Wright has acknowledged that McMurray Middle School had previously carried out an internal investigation. This seems to mean the school was addressing the complaints, not ignoring them.

– In Mr. Wright’s final paragraph he notes that this affair is being aired in public affecting the students and families pressing charges. He neglected to mention all the others who have been brought into this by these accusations – the rest of the student body, the teachers, the administrators, and in fact, the whole island population. Everyone has been incredibly negatively affected by this lawsuit. It is very likely nothing will be the same moving forward. It will definitely never return to normal for the students and families who chose to bring this over the top lawsuit. It may well ruin their lives on the island. These events should present a cautionary tale for anyone considering pressing charges for whatever reason. We live in a very small place.

— Gini Harriman