MEET THE BAUMANN SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
SCHOOLS
Same old baloney...Look they have been falling apart for years under Dennis
If the schools crumble, our community is doomed to follow
To the Editor:
We are concerned by what is happening at the Bedford Central Schools. They are in severe disrepair. Right now, all the Bedford Central Schools are overcrowded, in serious need of electrical and mechanical upgrades, masonry, walkway and plumbing repairs and require new fire safety improvements.
On Jan. 15, however, all that can change.
On that day, Dana and I will vote "yes" in the Bedford Central School Bond Referendum and we urge you to join us. This bond will provide the sum of $17.8 million for all our schools. This money is desperately needed. It will make each school a safe and secure environment for all our children, expand essential educational services such as libraries, media centers and classrooms, and bring our schools up to the standards by the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
Complying with these ADA directives is important to so many people. Personally, I want to be able to take part in my child's education, and until our buildings are brought up to code, I cannot. Disabled grandparents who wish to visit their child's school cannot. Handicapped citizens who wish to vote cannot. Students who suffer a broken leg or other mobility injury and wish to return to their own school cannot. Not all of our schools will be brought up to code, but if we do nothing, we will be in danger of losing our federal funding allocation.
Right now, we're in danger of much more. Our schools have too many students and enrollment projections indicate steady and substantial growth throughout the next decade. There have already been school board discussions on possible busing or redistricting. Our middle school children do not have a proper cafeteria in which to eat their lunches.
Some may say, "I don't have children in the schools and I already pay to much in taxes." But even those who don't have a child in the schools still have an investment in the community. The backbone of the Bedford community is its public school system. Our quality of life, our community values and the property values of our homes are the direct results of the high standards set by the Bedford Central School District. If our schools literally crumble, our community is doomed to follow.
Next year our son will be eligible to join the Bedford school system. As fellow parents, as fellow residents, we urge you to join us on Jan. 15 and vote "yes" in the Bedford Central School District Bond Referendum.