Budget Defeat Affects Those Who Can’t Vote

To the Editor:

The worst part of the budget being defeated again is that the group that it affects the most is not able to speak for themselves — that is the children. It saddens me that my children will now most likely experience larger class sizes because it seems this town doesn’t have enough supporters for education.

Parents, please listen up! We are now at the point that cuts to the education budget are not going to be transparent. Unfortunately there are no further programs to cut; we cut those three years ago when we couldn’t get the budget passed. All we have now are teachers, buses, and maintenance. If the school system did absolutely no site repairs or improvements to any of its facilities it still will not cover all that the Board of Education has to cut from its budget. Our growth in population is driving the buses, which leads to staff. Here is a special note to Middle Gate, Reed, middle and high school parents. It is these schools that desperately need to add teachers due to the growth in their population. We need to get this budget passed and we need your help.

Please stay tuned to see if it will be a vote at a town meeting or another referendum, but either way get out and vote yes!

Sue Zimmerman

20 Pine Tree Hill, Newtown                                        May 10, 2006