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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor: After Mr. Lanny Walter completely mischaracterized my letter from last week - I felt compelled to write. I resent his portrayal of my letter. Mr. Walter and others, unfortunately, turn a completely blind eye to Saugerties school related problems, offer not the slightest recognition of the issues, and try to divert attention by simply blaming everything on the funding method of public schools. Unless the problems are adequately discussed and dealt with, school budget votes will continue to be used by voters to indicate their frustration and disapproval of the lack of action by the school board and administration. And school boards will continue to cut (even worthwhile) line items to get a budget passed the 2nd time, rather than have to deal with the tougher issues that would go a long way to gaining the public's confidence. In my letter that caught Mr. Walter's ire, I offered some reasons why the public voted down the school budget in May by 566 votes out of 3,428 cast. I explained that I thought this defeat was not just due to the $44.7 million budget, but other factors influenced this vote, which the superintendent to a large extent should take the blame for. I offered some actions that this school district could take to redeem itself. It's actually Mr. Walter and others that have let many of our children down. Some former (and present) board members, including Mr. Walter, didn't have the foresight to maintain our schools, didn't engage the parents and public to gather support for upkeep, and then tried to ram down people's throats an overextended $62 million building project that was overwhelmingly defeated in 2002. Here it is over 3 years later, and there still hasn't been a shovel put in the ground. If things had been done right, my child along many others would today be making use of upgraded facilities and the advantages they would provide. It is also not beneficial to our community and schools for Mr. Walter to insinuate that those people that may vote "no" on a school budget care less about education than those who vote "yes". That attitude ignores that budgets contain dollars that are allocated to certain priorities and programs, and voters may vote against budgets if those priorities and programs are not to their liking. (By the public defeating the budget in May, the school board has backtracked and removed the controversial administrative position.) Just pleading "vote yes" for any school budget put before voters, as Mr. Walter tends to do, gives the impression that the public is being asked to buy into believing that an increase in revenues for schools automatically translates to a better educational system. The public knows better than that, and expects the school leadership to recognize the same.
The failure of responding properly to Hurricane Katrina was largely blamed on people whose primary qualifications were based on patronage. Although personnel changes were quickly made in the case of Katrina, locally our boards have been unwilling to correct earlier mistakes. That makes it difficult for those administrators, teachers, and other personnel that provide outstanding service, and worse still for parents and children who are often the first to complain. The cozy relationships between certain board members and superintendents, highlighted by the recent revelation of those out of town lunch dates paid for by taxpayers, is symbolic of the unhealthy decision making process that exists. Since two previous superintendents left before their contracts ended, it was vitally important to have someone that would be here long term - and be dedicated to and involved in all facets of our community. That is why, while on the board, I voted against Mr. Rhau (and against his contract). The actions of the present superintendent are trivialized by Mr. Walter, yet had an impact on voters when they spoke on Election Day and turned down his budget. The school district can hobble along with Mr. Rhau, and that is the likely scenario, until his contract ends in 3 years and he retires to New Jersey - again. Maybe then we'll finally get that long-term superintendent. Recent superintendents and boards have felt they are most successful, by their definition, when they keep the public in the dark about their inner workings and decisions, and not have to justify their actions. So, on those rare occasions when the public gains insight, as happened during the May vote, they'll come out to vote and reject a 1st budget, since that is their only vehicle to show their indignation. Sincerely, Klaus Gaebel West Saugerties (The writer is a former member of the Saugerties School Board) June 8, 2006 |