~ SpeakOut ~
Academics and co-curriculars are important, so override is needed
Dick Mackey WESTMINSTER

As the day approaches for the second override vote pertaining to our schools hopefully those suggesting how we vote, either yes or no, have taken the time to become well acquainted with all the facts in the school budget. I agree whole heartily with George Lane's recent words that if one cannot afford to vote for the override one shouldn't. On the other hand voting yes or no for no justifiable reason isn't very educationally sound or well thought out. I also agree with Mr. Lane's words that Keith Harding's reasoning for not voting for the override in no way shows any validity. Hopefully Mr. Harding, the apparently self-appointed protector of our seniors, in addition to holding his sign reading: "Vote No-Save Our Seniors" has informed all seniors of the opportunity they have to request a reduction in their taxes if they feel the taxes impose a hardship on them. Hopefully, he will also hold up a sign to vote yes when it comes to voting for a new senior center in Westminster.

During my 40 years residing in Westminster I have never seen a superintendent of schools or a school committee be so open or take the time they have to inform us all of the ramifications of the school budget, both in writing as well as on our local cable television channel. These are not scare tactics as some suggest. This is the reality of the situation. Ask the 32 former employees that have been terminated. We are now paying their unemployment compensation rather than their salaries. It concerns me that over four times as many people vote as do attend town meetings. Apparently many either don't want to learn the facts or just don't care. We can all come up with reasons as to why we vote yes or no but are our votes made after studying the issues? We live in communities that provide us many services: police, fire, schools, highway department, etc. It is our responsibility to support these services as when one breaks down the remainder suffer just as we all do.

In the past few years through the efforts of our superintendent of schools, Mike Zapantis, and our school committee funds from the state that were due us in the past have been recovered. Without the efforts of the afforementioned individuals these funds would still be in Boston and just might have stayed there forever. This money has had to be used for capital improvements which was its original intent many years ago. With these funds along with another approximately three hundred thousand dollars in donations made up of cash as well as materials and time by private citizens our towns now have a facility of which we can all be proud, and at no additional cost to the taxpayer. Parents, grandparents and others interested can now enjoy activities under the lights. Those attending events can sit in bleachers without fear of being cut or "slivered" or falling down upon accessing. With these new facilities attendance at events as well as participation by students has more than tripled. Now those who participate in band, field hockey, soccer, cheerleading, football or whatever do not have to be concerned with the mud, stones, holes in a field that had become unsafe over the past forty-four years. Buildings and bridges don't last forever and must be maintained or rebuilt. This synthetic field turf will serve the communities of Ashburnham and Westminster for generations to come, well beyond when most of us will still be around. If you haven¿t yet seen these facilities it would be well worth a few minutes of your time to visit Oakmont and take a walk on the field. Our schools are supported by and belong to all who reside in Ashburnham and Westminster.

I have spent the past 50 years of my life in public education, the last 14 on a totally volunteer basis. During this time I have learned much but nothing more important than the value of co-curricular activities for every student. The academics are certainly important and the success of our students has shown that they have been well educated but an integral part of the educational process is the involvement of students in activities outside the classroom. Many times what they when not in the classrooms proves to be the most important aspect of their education. Ask any college admission's officer or any student who has been involved in co-curricular programs. We are accountable for providing these activities at no cost to our students or their parents just as they were provided to us by our parents and grandparents. To deny these for students is a blueprint for disaster. All we have to do is look back four or five years. We should have learned from those mistakes. Unfortunately we can never make up for what we denied our students at that time.

We are living in the year 2007 of the 21st Century not the years of the 20th Century where some would like to keep us. When we start charging fees for programs that are a part of the educational process it seems to me it is just a matter of time before someone challenges us in court as being discriminatory. When fees are charged, even $1, we are discriminating as those who can afford the fees will be the only ones able to participate. Those students from families who can't afford the fees will be sitting on the sidelines deprived of their rights.

A seventy-one-year-old senior.