Question for the Advertiser: Why not focus on the positive?
I am dismayed at the reporting presented to your readers (Feb. 3rd issue) regarding the School Boards Community Forum on Jan. 28. Your journalist interviewed two participants out of more than 100 who attended the meetings and breakout workshops, and unfortunately those two interviewed for the article seems to have a perspective far different than the other 100+ concerned citizens in attendance.
After watching some of the dialogue and challenges discussed last year regarding the budget, I decided to see for myself what all the concern was about and attended the Community Forum.
For me, this was the first time attending any event like this after moving to Warwick three years ago.
Having a unique and fresh perspective, I would commend the board for their candidness, open to discussion of alternative viewpoints, and willingness to make tough decisions. That is the essence of leadership!
It was good to see the board seeking the input from the community. The breakout sessions provided made all the participants realize its extremely challenging to close a $3 million budget gap without tough decisions and a discussion on priorities.
Are there trade-offs to be made?
Cut teachers and keep sports untouched?
Keep teachers and increase taxes?
Or a shared burden approach across the board?
The Boards message was quite clear. We can only make decisions on what is known as facts at this time.
1. There is $3 million in budget shortfall to be closed.
2. We cant count on a tax increase that may or may not be approved.
3. Decision on Greenwood Lake students is a year away and cannot be factored into this years budget.
4. Student enrollment is declining.
5. Teacher salaries and benefits are contractual obligations.
Your article cited the stressful nature of the exercise and the cuts being treated like a game.
As a participant in the same exercise, I found it quite educational and my fellow participants displayed a true willingness to discuss the issues at hand. The cards representing the budget issues was the easiest and quickest way to provide a large group of citizens a forum for their recommendations to close the budget gap, given the known facts as of today.
So I ask The Warwick Advertiser: Why not focus on the positive aspects of the meeting?
Colin Buller Warwick