I have lived and worked in Hillsborough for 35 years. My husband, Dave, and I have raised our three children here. They received an excellent education. All three went on to graduate from college and are gainfully employed.
This is a result of all the residents who came before us and voted for school budgets so that my children could have a great education. In other words, a vote for the budget was a vote for everyone’s children.
Proper funding for education results in benefits for us all. Not only does it directly benefit our students, but it is a win-win situation for our property values and our community as a whole. A strong school system makes for a more stable community, which allows our town to thrive and grow.
Last year our budget did not pass. I am also an instructional assistant in our schools and have seen the immediate consequence of this. We lost quite a few excellent teachers and instructional personnel. Our class sizes rose, and we lost some outstanding programs like Spanish in the elementary schools (a state requirement) because there wasn’t enough money to fund it all.
I believe that our students deserve roofs that don’t leak, enough instructional materials with which to learn and curriculum that will enable them to function and succeed in their future. We need to get out and vote for this year’s budget on April 27 to avoid more dire consequences.
Our children truly are our future. Possible privatization of personnel, loss of more programs and perhaps even larger class sizes are all very real ramifications resulting from a failed budget. We cannot afford not to pass our budget.
Debbie Mendez
Hillsborough

