Tight budgets require tough choices
To the editor:
Financial gap for our school and harvest break for the students who want to work. So how do we manage this and keep everybody happy? It’s time to think outside the box.
Extend the school day by an hour, shorten the school year, save money on bussing, support staff, and so on.
No more free admittance for hockey or basketball, etc. Everyone should pay when they come to the games or events.
Shut down the school from Christmas till the end of January; save on heat and lighting, etc.
Cut out winter and spring break. If harvest break is so disruptive for the students, then so is winter and spring break.
Provide one credit in math for all students that work during harvest. It’s the biggest lesson to be learned in life. These students know what work is all about. One hour work equals one hour pay — it’s all about math and pride in what you do. Nothing is free, and money doesn’t grow on trees, as these students have learned.
Or we can do as Mr. Graham wishes in his article on page 4A (Viewpoints in last week’s Star-Herald).
Cut out harvest break. Let’s not forget that these growers provide most of the taxes for our schools, and most of the land that we ride on with ATVs or snowmobiles. We even walk or ride in their farm roads to go hunting and fishing. It must be something that’s owed to us?
Outsource our work by having the growers hire more migrant workers. They make money here and sent it home to Mexico. They are good workers, but they surely don’t pay money on property tax here.
Discourage our young people from working harvest or rock picking. After all, the money they earned would be spent locally. Have Mom or Dad provide the kids with a debit or credit card — it’s the American way! Let’s teach our kids to be lazy; they don’t need to work.
The financial gap — it’s a big problem. I hope it’s not like Wall Street where bonuses are paid out and the little guy gets the pink slip. The school board has to hold the cost down for the taxpayers or you’ll get a taxpayer revolt come time to vote on the budget. Good luck and may the voters be merciful when voting time comes.
Presque Isle
