Editor’s Note:
In response to the recent article titled “A Battle for the Top: Unpacking Yorktown’s Valedictorian Debate”, Dina Menn has provided the following statement. Ms. Menn wishes to address claims made during the public comment portion of a Yorktown ISD school board meeting, as well as concerns regarding the portrayal of events in the article. Her statement is published here in its entirety, exactly as submitted.
I was recently contacted by a newspaper regarding Sydnie Krueger’s public allegations. Sydnie spoke during the public comment portion of a Yorktown ISD school board meeting, where she attributed her Salutatorian ranking to my actions. Virginia Gilstrap, who attended that meeting and later wrote an article, should have taken the time to verify the facts before publishing, as there are always two sides to every story. It’s important to remember that anyone can attend a board meeting and make public comments, even if those statements are untrue or defamatory.
As a professional, I am committed to maintaining confidentiality and will not discuss Sydnie’s academic record, course selections, or details from meetings with her and her parents.
Information regarding course offerings—including Honors, AP, OnRamps, Victoria College Dual Credit classes—and the GPA point system has always been provided to students and parents. Additionally, any schedule changes require the completion of a schedule change form signed by a parent.
I consistently encourage students and their families to visit colleges and meet with academic advisors to review degree plans. This helps ensure that any dual credit courses taken in high school align with their post-secondary goals. Given the variety of colleges, degree plans, and career pathways available, I strongly advocate for students to have ongoing discussions with both their parents and college advisors to make informed decisions about life after high school.
Dina Menn
Disclaimer:
Cuero Online News is an independent publication and is not affiliated with The Cuero Record or its sister paper, The Yorktown News-View. These publications operate entirely separate and maintain distinct editorial teams and content policies.
