Letters to the editor May 11

Posted 5/10/17

Make Eldred about the students again “He stuck in his thumb, And pulled out a plum, And said ‘What a good boy am I!’” This is the nursery rhyme that was running through my …

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Letters to the editor May 11

Posted

Make Eldred about the students again

“He stuck in his thumb,

And pulled out a plum,

And said ‘What a good boy am I!’”

This is the nursery rhyme that was running through my mind as I listened to Eldred Central School District’s (ECS) board candidate for re-election, Doug Reiser, make his speech at meet-the-candidate on May 4. He was explaining that the property tax levy had remained virtually the same, at $9 plus million, since he first became a member of the board 10 years ago. He was very proud about keeping under the property tax levy cap.

He left out a few facts. First, ECS is serving 140 fewer students than they served 10 years ago, increasing the cost per pupil tremendously. Secondly, he failed to mention that three consecutive budgets and tax levies under his watch were inflated. This resulted in a surplus of $2.5 million by 2011. This surplus was collected at the time the board was attempting to pass four referendums that failed. Including this year’s budget, $1.4 million of that surplus or reserves have been used to balance budgets and keep the tax levy low. So essentially the district is not bringing in enough money through state aid and current tax levies and must cut into the taxpayers’ savings account.

The five-year contracts ratified by the ECS board this year will require the board to break through the property tax cap next year when Doug Reiser is not running for re-election. And then what—more five-year contracts to burden the district before his next term runs out?

No! Send Jack to the corner! Elect Allyson Wagner and vote for the bus proposition on Tuesday, May 16. Make Eldred about the students again.

Paul A. Clark Jr.

Barryville, NY

A time for new vision in Eldred

It’s time for a new vision for the Eldred Central School District. It’s time for fresh ideas. It’s time to explore alternative funding sources such as grants. It’s time both the administration and board of education be held accountable, as our students deserve more. It’s time for change.

Vote on Tuesday, May 16 at the Eldred Jr./Sr. High School from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Allyson Wagner

Candidate for Eldred School Board of Education

Many positives at Eldred

As a resident of the Eldred Central School District, I hope many community members go to vote for the budget and school board member on Tuesday, May 16.

We have a lot of positives in our district: our music department; teachers involving movement in the classroom and getting the students excited for learning; amazing athletes; custodians/security personnel that greet every person as friends; and a caring faculty and staff.

There are positives and negatives in any district. We do have a budget that needs work so that residents can afford their taxes. Paul Clark, who has written critical letters to local newspapers, proposes closing one of the buildings, which would increase class size and limit programs. There are ways to help the budget and offset costs. Grant writers get paid by the grants they write. This is no cost to the district or community members. We also have a very giving community that donates a lot of its time and resources to our wonderful district. Include those business owners of our district to come up with a great plan. Just look at our Little League ball field by the elementary school. Volunteers built the fences and dugouts. Our families care about our school. Focus on the positives and create more positives!

Community members, please go the board meetings and don’t listen to negativity. Offer suggestions for the positive. Ask questions. Community members should have their voices heard. They need to be there so they can make an informed decision come voting day. This is not only to vote for the board candidate but also for the budget proposal.

Joana Dutcher

Glen Spey, NY

Fix it, don’t ditch it

I remember the good old days of health insurance. My first real job was for the phone company. I was ecstatic (for a while anyway). I think for the most part in those days when we got a job our employer provided insurance. Of course they didn’t cover pre-existing conditions, so most of the time you weren’t covered, never mind that it was not your fault in any way.

What qualified was determined by the insurance company’s bottom line. Is this what the American people want? We should go back to this? 

I beg you Republican leaders to show some empathy for us all. We get it you guys hate Obama. But the tone of your actions is becoming downright embarrassing, not to mention extremely disrespectful and detrimental to the whole country. You can’t blame Democrats for your behaviors. Please stop with the repeal stuff. Fix the ACA. Call it Trumps Trump, or whatever, just stop squandering our money.  

I write this as my neighbor and her daughters are rushing off to the hospital to be with their loved one. We can only pray for David’s speedy recovery. How sad that the system proposed by Republicans in the House would also burden innocent people like this with mounds of unmanageable debt. I have been fortunate with my health, but there comes a day of reckoning for all of us. As human beings we all share this one little insignificant spaceship out in the universe. This is it guys, unless you have enough money to settle on Mars, but I guarantee you are not getting an ocean view. So, let us be kind to each other. Remember, your health is your fortune!

Lisa Bauer

Key West, FL and Narrowsburg, NY

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