Where are the board’s priorities?

Friday, January 27, 2012

To the Editor:

We watched the school board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18, and were shocked at the total disregard for the taxpayers and students of Hollis and Brookline. Where are the priorities of the School Board members? They want to eliminate important classes in the area of science, engineering, and robotics and have overcrowded core classes, including English and math.

On the other hand, they suggest keeping ceramics, guitar, the essence of Spanish (Spanish 1½: a review for students not ready to progress to the next level), yearbook, and history of music. Who is the School Board catering to? They spent a full hour proposing the elimination of one FTE (full-time employee) for $50,000, plus benefits. What about the $19,750,000 budget? Do they think that eliminating one position is going to solve the budget crisis?

It is time to stop their frivolous spending. The School Board is comprised of lawyers, doctors and computer executives who do not live paycheck to paycheck or on social security, as many Hollis and Brookline residents do. It is time they stop trying to be all things to all people and they get back to their original goal of educating our children and preparing them to enter the real world.

DWIGHT SACKETT

Hollis