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On or about October 10th, an article appeared
in the Journal News that stated that Senator Vincent
Leibell procured a grant for the Mahopac Schools
in the amount of $150,000 to go toward their sports
program. I personally was appalled. Your PTO and
all the parent groups in our community worked
long and hard to get our budget passed knowing
that a contingency budget would be just awful
for our kids. As a result of my anger, I wrote
a letter to the Journal News expressing my concerns.
I mean, how unfair. We pass our budget and are
rewarded with more taxes and less services. Mahopac
does not pass their budget and are rewarded with
numerous grants along with other incentives. They
even have a garbage waste company giving them
$5.00 for each new customer that signs up. What
is this message?
As your PTO president, it is not only my duty
to raise funds for the school, hold meetings to
keep you apprised of our school situation, produce
fun enrichment for our kids, and just in general,
hold our school family together but it is also
my duty to tell you when I think things are lopsided
and guess what? Right now, they are lopsided.
It is not the fault of our administration or even
our school board. The blame runs much deeper than
that. It is time for us, as parents and taxpayers
to say enough is enough. If Vincent Leibell can
"find" $150,000 for a sports program, why can't
he apply that and all pork barrel money toward
the education of all our public school children
(not private colleges where one's children attend)?
Where is it written that you only get a golf outing
on the county if you do NOT pass your budget as
Bob Bondi has stated? (Journal News, August
22, 2006).We are holding an event at the very
same golf club and were not even offered a discount.
As a matter of fact, we had to beg to have cookies
thrown in so we could hold the price of the tickets
and make a little money (FYI, we are only making
about $5/head on this event). It just stinks and
it's time to let people, not Kent Primary people,
but the powers that be, know just how outraged
you are. That is why I am asking all parents of
our school to write to Senator Leibell and County
Executive Bob Bondi as well as any other politician
you see fit, to let them know just how you feel.
You can also express your feelings at the polls
come election day. Now, I'm not telling you how
to vote. I'm just trying to say that you have
the power to vote. Go exercise your rights. I
am also considering organizing a walk on Putnam
County. I for one have had it. What happened to
the Lottery Money that was supposed to go toward
education? Maybe it got caught in someone's pork
barrel?
Next year, another school budget vote will come
up and we will once again be faced with increases
to our already overburdened school taxes. I am
in no way saying to vote a budget down. This only
makes the kids the losers. What I am saying is
let's not wait until May to take the bull by the
horns. Let's start a letter writing campaign.
Not to our administration or school board. This
is out of their hands. I intend to write lots
of letters and I am starting with this letter
to you. And after that, I'm up for a little stroll
down main street…anyone want to join me?
Respectfully (but with steam coming out of my
ears),
Ellen S.
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