Reader's Viewpoint: School Tax Vitally Needed

Editor, The News: Many of my friends and acquaintances I are going to vote for the millage requests "A". "B", and "C". Some others have I said they are not. This letter is to the Iatter group. In the past few weeks I've heard many reasons for voting no: taxes are too high; the school system is wasteful; do a better job with what you've got; I teachers' salaries are excessive; and too many administrators, are among the reasons advanced. None of these are I without merit; none of these truly reflect I I our school system. The fact is our school district is both I I large and complex- as is any I I tion with a 30 million dollar budget. At I I the same time- during my year on the I I school board- I have been deeply I I pressed with the efforts of Dr. Howard I I and his staff to build financial integrity into the operation of our schools. This I I has taken many forms- too many to I merate here. The results of these efforts I have been to deliver a credible educational program during a period of I ing real revenue. The loss of 3.7 million dollars in State aid coupled with inflation and new mandatory expenses (such as I unemployment compensation) has left us I I with less real dollars to spend on I tion. There is no more cutting we can do- of I any consequence- and still deliver I catión to our children. We already have I started to slip in meeting basic education I requirements. We have exhausted all of J " me üuqgetory maneuvèrs.VVe are at thel crossroads of revitalized education for I our children or continued erosión of al once superb educational system. : Your board unanimously I ed going to the voter for additional I I funds. We trimmed our request when the University delivered its one-shot half million dollar payment for children I I ing on their tax-free property. There is I I little more we can do to demonstrate our j I credibility to you. j : On June 9 you will deliver a message. I I It won't be for or against the I I superintendent 'because. he is about as I I good as this town has ever seen. It won't I I be for or against the board because I I we're citizens and parents just as you I I are. Your vote in truth will be for or I I against a sound educational program for I I our children. No amount of rhetoric will I I ajter that truth; no excuses or bias will 1 I change the fact of it. j On June 9, I believe the nine members of your school board will vote for Proposals"A", "B",and "C"'. I Will you join us? Peter S. Wright, Trustee, Board of Education