The Kids Firsters are in full spin mode after last week's marathon session at 1115 Clinton Street, during which parents and students begged them not to fire star teachers Paula Ohaus and Cheng-Yen Hillenbrand. Over the past few days, they've enlisted former councilman Mike Lenz and former school board trustee Jean-Marie Mitchell to defend their unpopular decision. But as early as last Tuesday, cracks were already forming in the Kids First facade. Barbara Bravo (widely known as a Kids First booster) sent us the following letter of support prior to last Tuesday's meeting. Although Bravo wanted her statement read aloud that night, we could not definitively verify her e-mail address in time.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to send the message to the BoE that it is my position to do every thing we can to keep Mrs. Ohaus. After seeing her production of Hair Spray and seeing her dedication to Alice in Wonderland she is a gem! I must admit at first when I heard of the sleep-overs I was alarmed. But now that I think about it... I don't really care. If the parents say it is ok and the kids want to go - why would you care? The endless blogging is petty and unfair!

Consider being blogged about and slandered, having to keep your head high, still come to work, do a job (at the present time) 6 days a week? She is truly a professional and consider her an educator, friend to all these students.

Most sincerely,

Barbara Bravo, parent