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Bedford Central community needs to be realistic; pass the bond referendum
To the Editor:
The residents of the Bedford Central School District will vote on the pro-posed $17.8 million bond referendum on Jan. 15. Although there has been tremendous debate within the community over the specific proposed changes, I believe this community needs to take a realistic look at what is currently occurring in our schools and the impact continued growth will have upon the children who attend these overcrowded schools.
• sending your child to a school where structural renovations, electrical system upgrades, fire safety and health safety improvements were neglected because the community rejected these upgrades?
 | your property values decreasing because new homeowners will not send their children to neglected schools? |
| surrounding communities having better schools? |
| maintaining the integrity and reputation of Bedford without investing in the educating of its youngest residents? |
| being a physically handicapped child and not able to attend your local school because your school is not ADA compliant? |
| the outrage of a parent with a handicapped child who is not being provided access to their local community school, further isolating their child? |
| what it is like for an 11-year-old to sit in the hallway for lunch, being told he cannot talk to his friends because it will disturb classes? |
| having to schlep up to the high school for a middle school activity because there is not enough room for the entire school to meet? |
| walking to classes outside in below freezing weather or during a thunder-storm? |
| living in Bedford and having an inadequate library and media center? |
| having inadequate playing fields? |
| being a five-year-old and being told you cannot attend school with your older sister and brother? |
| Being five years old and being told you will be bused to a school in another town for a year or two, then uprooted |
back to your local elementary school?
| the possibility of going to school in a trailer for many, many years? |
| having art in the hallway because there is not art room? |
| the possibility of having art on a cart? |
These conditions are outrageous and inexcusable. They must be addressed.
We know that parental involvement, class size, the arts, music and sporting activities are all vital components to the proper neurological, psychological and educational develop-. ment of our children. This cannot be accomplished without a commitment to a safe, healthy, supportive envi
ronment for our growing population.
The average property assessment estimates our annual household costs to be $178 for this bond; that is $14.83 a month or less than 50 cents a day for the life of the bond.
We, as a community, must acknowledge our growing population and make provisions before we destroy the reputation and integrity of our out-standing schools. The passing of this bond is key to the improvement and preservation of both our schools and our community.