Middletown not bulletproof as some like to think

I take exception to the comments made recently by Middletown Board of Education President Joan Minnuies in the latest issue of the Independent regarding the school budget defeat. The budget was voted down because Middletown taxpayers like myself are tired of the constant school budget increases that directly affect taxes. I do not believe the well-deserved defeated budget was due to low voter turnout or state funding law S-1701.

I think Middletown taxpayers – at least those living here long enough to know better – are tired of the irresponsible school spending. I am referring to the $90 million building improvement fiasco of a few years back. We are now paying the debt service for that mistake. Instead of foolishly borrowing that amount of money, I suggest that a few million a year – or whatever it would take – should have been set aside to improve one school at a time. However, that is history isn’t it?

Middletown is not bulletproof as some may like to think. We cannot afford to spend money foolishly for the sake of perpetuating the mistaken notion that Middletown is “special” and has a reputation to defend. Middletown is not special. Witness the jailing of teachers a few years back. I also remember many years ago the mysterious unaccounted-for sum of $2 million of school funds, which resulted in the firing of the superintendent of schools.

Nicholas Del Giudice

Middletown