Letters to the editor

Week of April 5

Support budget questions to support school programs

To the editor:
   Our sixth-grade class put on a wonderful science fair at the Rutgers Eco-Complex on Feb. 22. Over 75 children displayed science fair projects. All the children deserve congratulations for their achievements. Thirteen of these students went onto display their projects at the Burlington County College 2007 Science and Invention Fair on March 31.
   Our school was well represented, and we should be proud of the children’s achievements. Four students returned home with awards.
   Congratulations to Cody Colder, Lauren Fennimore, Rebecca Szatkowski, and Ronak Trivedi. A special thank you to Denise Yockey, science teacher, for her efforts on behalf of all the students and for coming out to BCC last Saturday to support the 13 students. It was greatly appreciated.
   Science scores across the country are continuously declining. However, in Mansfield, we should be proud of our science program and the effort and achievements made by our students and teachers. We have a wonderful science program with a state-of-the-art science lab.
   This is something our community should take great pride in. This year, the science teacher’s salary and benefits could not fit within the 4 percent budget spending cap limitations. Therefore, for programs like the science fair to continue, the second question on the budget election needs to be passed.
   Our children are our future. Science and Technology are the future. On April 17, vote "yes" to the school budget question 2 and let programs such as the sixth grade Science Fair continue.
   Deann Szatkowski
Columbus
School budgets deserve voters’ approval

To the editor:
   If you value:
   * Appropriate class sizes, you need to support our schools’ budgets.
   Northern’s classes grades 9-12 are above state average, with the 10th grade class having an average class size of 27 students. The elimination of six teaching positions, paraprofessional, custodial, and secretarial support from the Mansfield Elementary School budget is the direct result of the last five budget defeats and the state law that caps the size of the budget. Mansfield’s fifth and sixth grade’s class size will be starting with 25 students in each class next school year.
   * Busing, you need to support our schools’ budgets. In 2005 and 2006 we lost the Northern 5:30 bus due to budget constraints. Bus looping in Mansfield is a direct result of previous budget failures.
   * The experiences students receive from their participation in music, drama, art, athletics, and clubs, you need to support our schools’ budgets.
   * A safe and well-maintained school, you need to support our schools’ budgets. Northern has forgone refurbishment and capital improvements because of budget defeats. After the 2005 defeat of the school budget, $250,000 was cut from the budget, and Northern lost $350, 000 of state grant money designated for a new roof because it could not supplement the grant money with $250,000 needed to complete the roof renovation.
   * The tools, technology and curriculum needed to prepare our children for competing globally in the 21st century, you need to support our schools’ budgets.
   * Children and community, and believe that our future lies in the minds of our children and will one day be the voice of our community, then you need to support our schools’ budgets.
   * The right to vote and have your voice heard, then show up at the polls Tuesday, April 17, 2-9 p.m.
Ann Flynn
Mansfield Township