Dear Editor:
Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend the community dialogue session held by the Warren County School District at the Warren High School. I was very pleased to see so many people in attendance. This is obviously an area of concern for all residents of our school district. One thing that I found very interesting and disturbing was the very last comment that came from a school board member. She thanked us all for coming and then said "We will keep you apprised of the situation and let you know what our decision is."
Why does the school board get to make decisions that so closely affect the rest of us? The school board members were elected by voters in their region who believed that if elected, those members would represent them and their voice. The school board members need to remember this and consider the voters' views and beliefs when making this huge life and community-changing decision. If our school board members were paying any attention at all Tuesday evening, they would have seen and heard an almost unanimous desire to keep all four of our schools open.
I have a degree in business administration and accounting, so I understand the economics of the situation. We are supposed to believe that we will save thousands of dollars a year if we consolidate. I truly believe that when it's all said and done the savings will be trivial. We still need to educate the same number of children and that all costs money no matter what building they are in. Part of the problem in our country is that too many decisions are based on the all mighty dollar and not on what is right, moral and for the good of the people. Let's not get lost in the glamour of the new schools and make a huge mistake for Warren County.
I grew up in New York State and graduated from Southwestern Central School. When there was a decision that needed to be made regarding the school district with tax implications, it was put on a ballot and put before the voters. Why can't we do that here? The voters are footing the bill - let us decide how to spend our money.
Kellie Johnson
Parent and taxpayer
Youngsville