My wife and I are longtime Bellevue residents and very proud of it. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve bragged about “the best run city in the country” and how highly rated our schools are. Until now!

We can’t believe that the district would make a decision to forbid the students from hearing the President of the United States speak to them. We are Independent voters. Whether we voted for President Obama or not he is the president. Who in the district thought it would set a good example to our children to forbid them from hearing the president speak. What does that say about the respect for the office?

I’ve voted in 13 presidential elections and no matter who won they had my respect. I taught the same to my children. And they are teaching their children the same. It saddens me that the Bellevue School District that I have spoken so highly of made such a terrible mistake.

The superintendent owes an apology to the people of Bellevue, the president and most importantly the students who were shown the ugly side of Democracy, the side where $$$ dictate the decision and not what’s right.

Gary & Diane Williams, Bellevue