Public education a bargain

To the Editor: Thank you Dr. Stephen Candio, it needed to be said and you said it. Thank you for putting forth the most ignorant and uninformed view. I was waiting for the perfect moment to chime in on the Sparta High School debate and you have provided it. Dr. Stephen Candio serves on the Board of Trustees of the Sussex County Charter School for Science and Technology located in Sparta (five-year enrollment projection is 100 students), his letter to the editor where he stated that the charter school has come up innovative solution to the building’s challenges has prompted this reply. Fellow Spartans, this town is an organism, it lives, it breathes, and it grows. Sorry to say so but Sparta High school has grown into an over crowded, run down embarrassment to the town. Dr. Candio, do you realize that there is not sufficient room for visiting athletic teams to change their clothes? They change in the hallways. Dr. Candio, do you also know that some sections of the musical instruction practice in the girl’s locker room? Dr. Candio, do you realize that multiple types of pure academic instruction are not able to be offered at Sparta High School, because there is not enough room? Dr. Candio, suggests that changes and/or additions to the high school need to be discussed is an objective manner, is that not what has been going on? Was there not a community task force assembled to determine the need for a new facility? Were they not objective? Were they biased towards a new high school? Dr. Candio also suggests that students do not need air conditioning. How about heat? Perhaps some money could be saved by having outhouses? In fact let us leave out any minor or major technological advances since the 1800’s. The nurse’s office should be stocked with a jar of leeches, the principal should walk the halls with a hickory switch and all laptops should be replaced by writing slates (one for every two students). Everything in the town is connected, schools, property values, stores, academic capabilities, etc. If Sparta does not invest in a new high school, then there will be one less attraction to this town. The detraction, the cost, property taxes will go up. I pay $10,000.00 a year in property taxes. Some readers right now are thinking, “wow that’s a lot,” while others are thinking, “I wish I paid that.” My taxes will go up; I’m OK with that, because one year tuition at the newly opened Veritas Christian Academy in Sparta is $8,500.00. I have three children and consider the tax price I currently pay, a bargain. I have to put my trust in the elected, appointed and civil servants of this town. I have to believe that they will do the right thing, for the town and not for themselves. I have to believe that my best interests are being served. I have to believe that my children’s best interests are being served. I have to believe that not building a new high school will negatively impact my family and the town. I believe, so I will be voting “yes” for the referendum. John McDonough Sparta