What Now?

Now what? It seems that 1/3 of what the Board of Ed asked for has been allocated. One Third. It's something, to be sure, but it is not enough.

I, for one, am disheartened that with 1/3, teachers and programs will still have to be cut from the schools. I am disappointed that education isn't prioritized more highly in this town. I am saddened that, in this rough economic time, we can't cut in other places first. I know that almost every area of the town department received less than it wanted. But it is also true that these programs we're losing will take a long time to reinstate, if they ever come back. Music in the middle school. Foreign language. Science enrichment at the elementary level. Instrumental music. Sports. Computers. Art. Not an area has been untouched, has it? And the loss of thirteen talented, dedicated people is a lot to swallow. If my memory serves (and forgive me, sometimes it doesn't), the Lebanon School District will lose 10% of its faculty. Ten Percent.

Ouch.

So, I'm not sure where we go from here. Please, help! Let's see if anyone has more ideas, more money! Let's toss some around! I am not happy or willing to let all of that education go. And I hope you aren't either.