The Broward County School Board’s 6-3 vote to fire Jennifer Andreu was a rush to judgment against a public servant with nearly three decades of service. Accountability matters. So do fairness, proportionality and weighing evidence that challenges an accusation.

Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal called Andreu “the most ethical person I’ve ever met,” someone who follows the rules “to a ‘T.”” That testimony and the documents Andreu submitted deserved serious
consideration — not dismissal.

The county inspector general found procurement mismanagement and misleading information, yet the report expressly concluded Andreu “did not engage in misconduct or gross mismanagement.” That demands a convincing explanation for why termination was appropriate. Instead, the district moved from the report’s release to a due process notice the next day, a meeting five days later and a termination recommendation two days after that.

Andreu disputed responsibility for an early procurement decision and challenged the inference that being copied on an email proved her knowledge. School Board members are entrusted with independent judgment; rejecting the superintendent’s recommendation would not have been overstepping.

Board members Adam Cervera, Jeff Holness and Nora Rupert were right to dissent. The majority must reconsider and reinstate her.

— David Weiss, Plantation

Don’t restrict drug imports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has temporarily delayed a dangerous rule that could threaten millions of Americans’ healthcare. The rule, known as “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” would effectively end the importation of prescription medicines.

Importing prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies is the only lifeline for seniors on limited incomes, people with high-deductible health plans and the uninsured. Due to the much lower cost of medications in Canada and other countries, imported medicine is their only option.

I am a nurse of 40 years, disabled by COVID. I lost all my savings trying to stay alive since 2020. I live on Social Security, have atrial fibrillation and can’t afford to pay for Eliquis in the United States, which is over $300 a month. I’ve relied on this drug to prevent strokes for six years by purchasing it from Canada.

Thousands of patients like me in Florida can’t afford this lifesaving drug. I ask readers to call or write to senators and U.S. representatives and demand they stop CBP from implementing a rule that restricts Americans from importing personal use prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies in Canada or other countries.

— Kathleen Fahey, Jupiter

Editor’s Note: The imposition of the new CBP rule has been delayed until Jan. 20, 2027.

A quid pro quo charade

What a revolting development. Our cowardly Orange Plague makes a deal with Putin to get Russian oil to cover the devastating global losses he caused by stupidly attacking Iran. Then he compounds his treachery by telling Ukraine to replace its president for not surrendering to Putin’s invasion of his homeland.

Trump is a traitor. He established that with the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, by pardoning the perpetrators, alienating our allies, and coddling and fawning over the world’s worst dictators: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, China’s Xi Jinping, and Russia’s murderous Vladimir Putin.

This blatant quid pro quo charade with Putin confirms that America’s values and priorities are not his own. Without principle or a moral compass and with no checks and balances, our would-be-dictator is an embarrassing stain on the soul of a once-proud America.

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”

— John Kelly, Parkland

A joy at Highway Safety

The state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles gets a bad rap, but my own recent experience contradicts this view. Employees were helpful, courteous and professional at every step.

I went to the Pembroke Pines office (University Drive and Pembroke Road) at 8:20 a.m. with no appointment, and was back in my car by 9:25 a.m. My ticket was No. 64, meaning they were processing a person every minute.

Thank you to DMV employees for your friendliness, efficiency and professionalism.

— Robert Cebrat, Pembroke Pines

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