To the Editor:
We must own up to our fiscal responsibilities.
At a recent school committee meeting, I heard parents step up to the microphone and express their frustration over the lack of funding for the Shrewsbury Public Schools. Indeed, commensurate with its wealth, the inadequate effort made by the town? to fund? its schools places? Shrewsbury at the bottom of a state profile among the towns of Holyoke, Fitchburg, Royalston, New Bedford, Lawrence and Fall River. The parents realized that even with a tax increase they would pay lower taxes than a majority of tax payers in the state. If a no vote prevails in the upcoming override election, Shrewsbury will have to dismantle its excellent school system and be satisfied with a second rate standing. Presently some Grades 4s and all of Grades 5-6-7-8 are at 30 students per class. With a no vote these classes will be in the 30-32 range. The high school classes will have 28-30. Students will then have a majority of their school years in classes of 30 or more. Unfortunately these students do not have a voice. Unfortunately many of these students will have to accept the norm of large classes and drift through their school years. Unfortunately these students will be like the proverbial frog in the pot of slow boiling water. They won's know the difference until it is too late. The children don's have a voice but we do – vote yes on June 3rd.
Dr. John P. Collins, former school superintendent of the Shrewsbury Public Schools
Shrewsbury