While the Eugene 4J School Board has had many challenges in the past few years, one member’s voice and actions have helped create positive and enduring change for the district’s students: Gordon Lafer. His temperament, intelligence and integrity continue to push the board forward.
Under his leadership, elementary schools now have librarians for the first time in 20 years, positions that can make a profound difference in the important learning-to-read years. Classified employees, education assistants and support staff, critical to the success of students at all levels, now have a living wage contract thanks to Lafer’s leadership, and he has continually advocated for the importance of smaller class sizes which, as a previous 4J middle school teacher, would have made it easier to give students the individual attention they need and deserve.
Additionally, Lafer has demonstrated his creative and forward-thinking ideas by helping to launch a construction education program that has students building homes for unhoused people in our community.
These accomplishments attest to Lafer’s abilities as an important and productive 4J school board member. Please join me in voting for him in the upcoming election: a vote that will benefit our students, our teachers and the larger Eugene community, and a vote that will allow him to build on his achievements.
Chava Beinin (retired educator)
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
Comments are closed.