Budget shows the administration's wrong priorities

To the Editor: On Monday, March 27,I attended the Sparta Board of Education meeting, where officials explained the upcoming budget of the Sparta public schools. At that meeting it was said that if the budget is defeated, Sparta would see programs cut and faculty fired. And, clearly, we once again see the priorities of our administrators: Nothing was said about lowering the salaries or reducing raises for administrators. Nothing was said about eliminating administrative positions. Nothing was said about taking away the new curriculum administrator whom the board had just voted to hire (adding this new curriculum administrator will not result in lowering class sizes, which is the reason for needing a new building referendum). Nothing was said about the new “enhanced” salaries being given to Dr. Morton, Dr. Monks, and Mr. Wolfe by moving their perks into pensionable salaries. The board hired Dr. Morton to pass a referendum. Here we are five years later, with still no new school. Sparta recently lost $15 million dollars from the state because of this administration’s miscalculations. How much money did we waste on all the architect renderings, legal cost, etc. for the elementary school on Glen Road? How much money did we waste on efforts to take away the Stamer property through eminent domain? How much money did we waste trying to purchase property on White Lake Road? How much money did we waste trying to purchase property near the quarry? How much money did we waste trying to purchase property at Station Park? How much money did it cost the taxpayers to pay for the facilitators to come up with a plan for an addition to the high school, something this administration repeatedly said could not be done? How much time was wasted or lost. Thus resulting in escalating building cost, etc. with all these failed attempts? If this budget doesn’t pass, then do what corporations do: get rid of top management that has failed to get the job done. Don’t punish the teachers who have no input into the decisions that have failed to accomplish these goals. If you punish the teachers, you punish the children. We all want what is best for the children of Sparta, questioning the administration is the least we should be doing when these important decisions are being made about our children and our town. Thank you to the board of education members who have devoted so much time and energy. The community puts trust in those we elected to the school board. I applaud any board member who speaks up and questions the administration. This is why I will be supporting Paul Johnson and Michael Schill. Donna Wainio Sparta