Information, not propaganda

To the editor: Recently a great deal has been written regarding the tuitioning of students from Greenwood Lake to Warwick. Wednesday is the time to vote. Regardless of how residents feel about the proposed referendum, it is very important they let their voice be heard and vote. In a series of advertisements and public comments, a number of scare tactics have been made in an attempt to impact on the vote. I shall not take the time at this point to reply to these issues as they have been already addressed. Suffice it to say that the facts are fairly simple. In tuitioning versus a merger, Warwick assumes no additional transportation costs/responsibilities, no takeover of Greenwood Lake debts/responsibilities, no merger of school boards and no additional program costs for BOCES or Special Education, as both remain Greenwood Lake’s responsibility. Thus, the advantages to consider the tuitioning (unlike what some might have you believe) are very simple. The advantages for Warwick are potential expanded electives and/or programs in Warwick at no additional cost to Warwick taxpayers and increased revenues generated in tuition and state aid. The advantages for Greenwood Lake are a lower costs and expanded curricular, cocurricular and extracurricular programs. I have, I believe, met one of the initial requests of the Board of Education and taxpayers to seek ways to offset taxes without impacting on the educational program offered at Warwick. The Board of Education on its part has agreed to make this a public referendum rather than making the decision themselves. Now the stage is set for the public to decide. Thus I encourage everyone to let their voice be heard but when doing so make your decision based on information, not propaganda, fear or threats. Thank you. Dr. Frank Greenhall Superintendent of Schools Warwick Valley Central School District