To the Editor:

I am curious to see if this letter actually makes it to print as it is directly related to you, the editor of The Altamont Enterprise and the decisions you make within your role as editor. However, I am hopeful you will print my opinions as controversial as they may seem, as you have for so many others in recent years.

First, some background on myself so you have an understanding of my perspective. My entire family attended and graduated from Berne-Knox-Westerlo, beginning with my dad, who is 83 years old right through his five children and seven of his grandchildren.

My husband and I reside in Westerlo and ran our own business there for over 30 years. My family has enjoyed every minute “on the Hill” with our friends and family.

Three years ago, I decided to take a position in the BKW elementary school as an administrative assistant. Each week, your paper is delivered to my office and each week I am shocked and appalled to read the articles you choose to print about Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District most of which are often filled with blatant inaccuracies, inflammatory headlines, and complete fabrications.

I do not usually share my opinion; however, I have grown incredibly tired of reading articles about BKW which are intentionally written to incite the community and disparage this small, rural school.

I am curious as to why you target Berne specifically? There are other schools dealing with the same difficult issues within a 20-mile radius. It makes our quaint community seem insignificant in comparison to other districts. So I ask you, is that your intent?

It appears as if the reporter is trying to create the perception that there is something incredibly wrong up here with the type of media bias in which the stories are written. The administrators, teachers, and staff who choose to work in this school are highly qualified, incredibly talented, unpretentious professionals who genuinely care about these children and their futures.

Our staff is strong enough to ignore, if not laugh at, what we call the “Altamont Surprise” because we know what you choose to print is not the truth, but a surprise that it is all just to sell your paper; nonetheless we worry about the underlying effect and negative connotation you are painting for the readers who are not mindful of all the facts.

Robin Erickson

Westerlo

Editor’s note: Our intention is to report on the three school districts in our coverage area — Guilderland, Voorheesville, and Berne-Knox-Westerlo — as fairly and accurately as we are able. When we make errors, we correct them. If you point out specific inaccuracies or fabrications, we’ll certainly look into them.

Of course we want people to buy our newspaper or subscribe to our website. No other media covers the Hilltowns and we believe an informed constituency is necessary for democracy to function. We believe people with various viewpoints, like yours, can meet through our pages and solve problems once they are understood. But, no, specific articles are not written to drive sales. Most of our readers are subscribers.