To the Editor: Shoreline citizens get an A for Museum and School Bond

To the Editor:

Response to headline article: "District receives Golden Achievement Award for public relations"

The award was based on "analysis, planning, communication and evaluation. Each entry was judged individually against these awards criteria.." "Successful public relations programs require the talents of many people," said Richard Bagin, APR, executive director of NSPRA. "This effort was evident in your winning entry." The $150 million bond issue for the replacement/modernization of Shorecrest and Shorewood was approved by more than 62 percent of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park voters in February. "

Some aspects of PR by the Shoreline School District were reasonably good, I thought. However, I was more irritated than satisfied with it by the lack of PR in regards to all of the facts surrounding the Museum's right to stay where it is and as it is in the Ronald Schoolhouse Historic Landmark Building.

The analysis and planning of how to relate to the public on this whole issue seemed quite poor to me. I wasn't impressed with the surprise 11th hour reveal to the public of the District's intent of taking over the entire main floors of the Museum building and drastically modernizing it. The idea of saving pennies on the dollar to circumvent the open democratic process of allowing pros and cons of the Bond project to be published in the Voters' Pamphlet seemed like very poor communication. Obviously the District evaluates themselves as a winner in PR and can toot their horn loud and clear. I for one, evaluate their PR with an 'A' for attending to their own interests in regards to the Museum part of the Bond issue and an 'D' for analysis, planning, communication and evaluation of the Museum part of the Bond issue. It would have been an 'F' had they not listened to the PR of the people and not made some reasonable agreement with the Museum. Thank goodness the Bond and Levy passed!

I evaluate Shoreline citizens with an 'A' for jumping in quickly to assist in saving their Museum and upholding their rights and the rights of the Museum, and an 'A' for the Museum and local activists for their PR that likely was key in getting the Bond to pass with 62%.

Julie Houff

Lake Forest Park