Democracy is hard work. It takes constant vigilance and participation. Those living within the Middletown Unified School District know this well.

For the past several months, a small group of citizens has bullied, threatened and undermined the hard work of teachers, administrators and school board members. Why? Because they have not learned the basic civic lesson that some things must be done for the good of all.

I applaud the individuals who spoke up either in letters or in person at the most recent Middletown School Board meeting, letting the community and the current board members know that they have had enough of this constant badgering, manipulation of standard policy and procedure and disrespectful and threatening behaviors.

What goes on in any one of our school districts affects all residents of Lake County. This small group of people have planted the seeds of disruption in other districts as well.

If you are approached by someone from this group to sign a recall petition, stop and ask yourself if you want to contribute to more undermining of the Middletown School District, more manipulation of a well-established system and another costly recall action against the legally appointed, very qualified and newest member of the board, Chris Ochs.

These same petitioners have wasted precious school funding on one special election because they would not abide by the decisions of the current, legally installed school board.

They have methodically disrupted the everyday functions of a district that serves our south county. They are engaged in tactics that waste the precious time of those who are actively and professionally involved in the process of educating students.

It takes only a few signatures, less than 2% of the voting population, to activate a costly special election to fill a board vacancy. Less than 2% does not reflect the democratic will of the people.

Don’t contribute your signature to an unwise, unneeded, misguided and expensive petition that serves no real purpose.

Let the current board get on with their important work. Let the election in June settle the existing open seat. Middletown does not need a second petition resulting in another costly special election. Beware what you put your name to.

Mary Borjon lives in Kelseyville, California.