It is unfortunate that your article about the most recent Howard County school board meeting did not cite the testimony of the board's student member ("Howard Board of Education votes to request removal of member Dyer," June 10).

She poignantly and compelling recounted her many encounters with board member Allen Dyer, personally, by phone and by email. His purpose was to persuade her to vote for him for BOE chairperson and he told her that with her vote and that of the two newest board members, a tie vote would occur. In that case, he said, the board would have no officers, and together they could "bring the board to its knees," effectively halting all business of the board.

Nor was it noted that, as a quid pro quo, Mr. Dyer said that he would support the student member's presumed motion to get full voting rights, as well as a second motion to give her a college scholarship. As board chairman, Mr. Dyer would have received an additional stipend of $2,000 annually.

When the student did not agree to his proposal, Mr. Dyer contacted other student leaders, urging them to pressure her to do his bidding. The calls she received from some other students caused her much concern.

The public expects to depend on the press for accurate, unbiased information. I regret to say that in this case, those expectations were not met.

Patricia S. Gordon, Ellicott City

The writer is a former member of the Howard County Board of Education.