Sent: 7/14/2013 8:38:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Once again, I will vote against the Region One budget on Tuesday, July 23.

I do this for several reasons.  The main one is that the Region One Board and the Administration have stopped listening to the public.  In an educational world where teaching listening skills to students is so important, the school “leaders”  are not listening.

On July 10, the Region One Board called a meeting.  For twenty minutes, members of the public urged the Board to listen to them.  Once the public comment period stopped, the Board spent 35 minutes doing nothing to change the previous budget.  The Board made up its mind not to listen to the public.

I have worked for Region One for 45 years.  I know how people operate.  I believe the powers that be feel they will “wear down the public,” and eventually the budget will pass.  I don’t think so.

While it costs about $7000 for each referendum, that price is small compared to what it will cost us in salaries and benefits for a Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent over the next three years.  That cost is near $1,000,000.

Some say those contracts have been negotiated and cannot be changed.  I don’t agree with that.  At some time in the near future, I will explain why I feel that way.

Please vote on July 23.  Absentee ballots are available at all Town Halls in our six towns.

Ed Epstein