To the editor:

I was pleased to read in the Jan. 4 edition of The Call that former Mehlville board member Venki Palamand was running again.

I met Mr. Palamand more than a dozen years ago. He, along with then superintendent Dr. Eric Knost worked hard to regain the public’s trust after a series of disastrous financial mistakes by their predecessors. Under Mr. Palamand and Dr. Knost, Mehlville earned my trust. Even though I home-schooled my kids, I supported the Mehlville district when they asked for more money. That changed after April 2023.

After voting for Proposition E, my taxes increased far more than expected. I learned that the current board took advantage of a loophole in state law to levy higher taxes than promised. I feel the school board deceived the public with their “money grab” and were unethical.

I will no longer support any tax increase, until this board is voted out of office.

Sonny Ketcham

Mehlville