Resident not surprised at failure of override
Jennifer Law, Ashburnham

To the Editor:

I am not surprised by the outcome of the vote. Nobody has extra money right now. I feel for the school, I have children in the school system. Of course I want the best for them. Right now, the best I can provide for them is keeping a roof over their heads. Cost of living has increased rapidly in the last year, oil, gas, groceries, town water/sewer - all has gone way up. Salaries have not been increased. Governor Patrick's claims during his campaigning included increase in education funds - yet towns like Ashburnham, Westminster, Townsend, Ashby, Pepperell - we are all finding a shortage in funds from the state. The state really needs to step up on education and help out these towns. When a school district is not even approved for the same amount as the previous year - there is a problem at state level. Again, I feel for the district but people just don't have the money for this override. I think it is wrong of the school district to want to re-vote on the override. If people could afford it, and were in support of it - it would have passed the first time. It was not, not because people don't support the school system but because people have to support themselves first. You have young couples in town who make very little, and you have a broad spectrum of elderly living on a fixed income. Bottom line, it's just not feasible.