Tell Me About It!

Letter to the Editor
Dear, Editor:
Over the past few years the voters in the Fairless School district have been asked to support a number of different levies. This March 4th we will once again be asked to vote on two levies. I have spent many hours over the past few years educating myself on school funding, tax levies, standardized testing and many other issues to try and make the best decision for my community, my school and my family at the polls. Once again, I will be supporting both levies for two reasons: the money is needed to continue to improve our schools and the money will not be coming from anywhere else.

We need to understand how much the quality of our schools impacts our community. From property values and tax base to the ability of our children to attend college and have successful careers, the schools reach many aspects of our future. Over the past ten years the improvements to the school system have been obvious; better test scores, higher graduation rates, and new buildings. It is also obvious that every penny was not spent perfectly. However, the basic foundation to stabilize and improve a school system is still there - smaller class sizes, retaining quality teachers, and programs that fit the needs of students. Without funds to continue these programs and others, it will not be long before the good financial planning that has been in place for years will be wasted and cuts will be forced either by the administration or by the state. These cuts will inevitably increase class sizes, cut both educational and extracurricular programs and send us backwards not forward.

To those opponents of taxes that say they cannot afford any more taxes… cuts in the school budget will still cost you even if your property taxes do not go up. Money spent on pay to participate programs (educational and sports), gas money in lieu of bussing, and special programs to prepare for college entrance exams would all be money better spent on all of our kids right now.

To those opponents who think school funding needs fixed… you are right. But to punish the children that attend the school now to get the point across to the state legislature does not seem very wise. It also does not make sense to me to trade my property tax for an income or sales tax levied by the state. I know that every dollar of my property tax goes to our district. Money sent to Columbus gets lost in the bureaucracy of state government. It will get figured out someday, but we need to make sure the kids don’t suffer until then.

Voting for both levies on March 4th will show that you still care about the improvement of our schools as well as our communities. Voting against the levies will only cause more stress on the school system and move us closer to a stand off with the state. Please support Fairless schools.

Sincerely,
Chuck Laney

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