Seven nabbed in bust - Recorder

10 / Thursday, December 12, 2013 OPINION The Recorder, Amsterdam, N.Y.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Be a voice for the future
To the editor:
To voters in the Northville & Mayfield districts:
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, voters face a critical responsibility
in our children’s education. The proposed merger features
key advantages that voters and parents need to
know.
A merger would create an economies of scale and
avoid duplication of services, while providing a large
and much needed state incentive aid package ($19 million
over 14 years) to offset tax differentials and stabilize
the tax base. For our children, a merger would increase
educational programs, maintain and expand shrinking
extra-curricular and athletic programs, and provide
greater access to electives and facilities. Additionally, a
merger provides needed building improvements, reimbursed
95 percent by the state. In the merger, districts
would retain their elementary schools, middle school
would be in Northville and high school would be in
Mayfield. Bus runs would be under an hour. After all,
door to door, the schools are only 10 miles apart.
In recent past, declining enrollment and revenue as well
as rising costs resulted in Northville’s program loss of
$913,200, according to the Northville Business Office.
“Holding the line” has meant a decline in quality of programming
and enrichment of educational experience.
Cuts in staffing and programs prohibit valuable opportunities
offered to previous students. Elementary students in
Northville have art and music once every eight days,
which is only three times a month. At the middle school
level, there are no technology classes for sixth grade and
foreign language (Spanish only choice) isn’t available
until eighth grade. There are no more field trips or jazz
band. Moreover, this year Northville lost a technology
teacher, a science teacher, and a band director to other
districts paying higher salaries. We cannot keep quality
personnel if we continue to shrink them to .4 and .5 and
require them to travel between districts. The bleed on
educators at the expense of students must stop.
Voting is from noon until 8 p.m. in the lobby of the
high school gym for Mayfield and in the gym for
Northville. According to the state Education Department,
to be eligible to vote, you must be 18 years old and have
lived in the district for the past 30 days. Don’t miss this
important opportunity to be the voice of our children’s
future. Our kids, their future, vote yes.
LOUISE K. SIRA,
Mayfield
Merger makes sense
To the editor:
As a taxpayer of the Northville Central School District,
I feel obligated to address the Northville Central
School/Mayfield Central School merger issue. In my
opinion, too many people are looking at this issue on an
emotional level, i.e., no more Northville Falcons, no
more varsity games at Northville, no more high school
concerts and musicals at Northville. Not being a native
of Northville, I feel very safe in stepping back from the
emotional side of the issue to focus on the practical matters
that the voters of the two districts are facing.
A merger will allow the Northville students to experience
restoration of programs and services that have been
cut or eroded through budgetary constraints. These programs
and services include some athletic teams, some art
and music and the services of occupational and speech
therapists. Though not essential to the basic educational
program, these are essential to the overall well rounded
development of students. The more experiences they
have in high school, the more likely they are to succeed
in college and in the work force.
Another major issue is that of transportation. I have
heard many people express concerns about busing students
the 10 miles distance between the two existing
facilities. There are many students in this state who are
bused greater distances. It is likely that many people
who are reading this letter survived school bus transportation
of this magnitude many years ago.
As for money matters, the merger incentive aid and the
increased building aid on new projects as well as on
existing debt is a huge factor that both districts must consider.
Yes, NCS District residents, your school tax bill
will increase slightly in order to equalize your tax burden
with comparably assessed Mayfield properties within the
new district. Recent tight budgets in Northville have
resulted in district residents enjoying the county’s lowest
school tax rates while the student program suffered.
If the merger fails, taxes will not go down. Without a
substantial increase in state aid, taxes will have to
increase well above the imposed tax cap in order to
restore cut programs and services affording our students
the best possible educational experience. Which brings
me back to the true emotional issue which is: what is
best for students, not what is best for sports, musical and
concert spectators.
Remember to vote Jan. 7.
CARL INGALLS,
Northville
Support the merger plan
To the editor:
Like many others, I moved into the NCS district after I
retired and was living on a fixed income. I never thought
much about our property taxes until I noticed how much
they were increasing year by year.
After serving on the Community Advisory Committee,
the committee charged to develop a school merger plan,
it was obvious to me that the only way to keep school
taxes down was to support the Northville-Mayfield
merger. We need the financial benefits that come with it.
But what about the education of our kids? Didn’t others
support the schools where my kids grew up? Don’t we
have an obligation to make sure that future generations
are offered a well-rounded education and are prepared to
join the work force?
Unfortunately, without the merger, we will continue to
lose programs. Enrollment and course offerings will continue
to decline, sports and other extra-curricular programs
will be cut, and we’ve already lost a lot. I recently
heard a mother say that her sixth grade child had three
study halls each day because the electives that he could
take were so limited. Do you remember what a waste of
time study halls were?
So I urge you all to do the right thing. Fortunately, in
this case doing the right thing will help taxpayers and the
kids by keeping our taxes down and at the same time
ensuring that the programs that have already been cut
will be restored.
Vote yes on Jan. 7.
MARY ANN EVANS,
Northampton
Merger numbers fail Northville
To the editor:
After reading all the information on the merger study, I
find it difficult to believe that Northville will benefit
financially from this merger.
1. After talking to the state comptroller’s office, they said
that mergers that work have a difference of 10 percent or
less in tax rates or one of the schools is closed. Mayfield
has a tax rate of 48.8 percent higher than Northville. You
have one guess as to who will make up this difference.
2. Northville taxes will increase next year by $186.76
per thousand of assessed value while Mayfield will go
down $654.64. That is to make up the difference in the
tax rates.
3. The incentive aid over the next 14 years is being
used to equalize the tax rates. What happens when this
aid runs out?
4. Page 6 of the study cuts six elementary positions in
Northville. How is that going to help prepare the students
for the new common core standards? The school
says they have no intention of cutting these positions,
but that will increase our tax burden beyond the $186.67.
5. Remember all rates are only projection and estimates
by the study team and are dependent upon the new
school board using these projections and estimates. The
new board could say “let’s cut Mayfield’s decrease in
half and raise Northville’s by another $300 per thousand.”
They could also say raise Northville by the 48.8
percent difference and we could use this incentive aid to
enhance programs and put aside some for the future.
Lastly, think twice about agreeing to this merger. It’s a
loser for Northville.
GUY POULIN,
Northville
The sons are getting it done
To the editor:
A lot of credit should be given to the Sons of the
American Legion in Broadalbin. The sons are a supportive
organization of the American Legion, originated to
do exactly that, support the legion or parent organization.
Since their charter was established, they have done
exactly that, successfully organizing events, raising
money, donating not only to the legion but to the local
and surrounding communities and various organizations
and reinvesting in the Legion. Last year in one event
they raised $8,000 for the Middleburg Fire Department
and flood victims. This year was $10,000, some of
which they donated out of their own account, for the
Fort Plain Fire Department and flood victims.
They have never asked, expected or received money
from the legion, the parent organization, for their own
personal needs or account, as it should be. They put in
countless hours of dedication and work to be successful
in whatever they do and never pat themselves on the
back or boast of their success.
As with many organizations they have many members
but only a handfull that does all the work. I choose not to
mention names as I may leave someone out which is not
my intent or fair to them, but the few who are the foundation
of the sons, know who they are as do many others.
So, guys, you deserve more than you get and a whole
lot of “thanks” from everyone as the legion is indebted
to you. Maybe you could add one more commitment to
your busy schedule and give other supportive organizations
classes and lessons on how to successfully organize
events, raise money, donate and be humble while doing
it. Thanks, guys, from all.
DAVE ANDERSON,
Broadalbin
When the woods were free
To the editor:
I remember when a venison roast in the oven, fish frying,
grandfather trapping beaver and camping in West
Canada country was recreation and free for folks year
round that didn’t have much money. Relatives had line
camps for trapping and shelter in big range country by
Siamese ponds.
DEC rangers could fine me up to $2,500 for storing
equipment, boats and shelter on state land. They said
modern ways are better and only one permit a year for
trappers and hunters. (I disagree.)
Why are those nice ladies dressed in white drawing the
curtains? I wanted to watch the sun come up over
Speculator Mountain. I don’t care. I’m real tired. I’m
going to rest and sleep and go back to Otter Lake and
camp and fish when a permit wasn’t required back when
the woods were free for everyone.
I don’t think lawyers, DA or judge understand, they
said something about plead guilty and plea bargain and
would send the bill later.
Wilderness forever. I don’t think so.
LEWIS N. PAGE SR.,
Speculator
Thank you for your support
To the editor:
To the voters of Northampton:
We would like to thank you, the voters of the town of
Northampton, for the support you gave us during this
past election. Many of you welcomed us into your
homes and businesses and listened to what we had to
say. Some of you educated us with good suggestions
about what you would like to see over the next four
years.
We appreciate those who let us put signs in their yards,
signed our petitions, wrote letters to the editor, supported
us financially, ran our website, served as poll watchers,
and helped us in other ways.
We take seriously the faith that you have shown in us.
As in every election we know that there are those who
did not support us. We pledge to do our best for all the
residents of Northampton over the next four years. We
look forward to working together to unite Northampton
and move the town forward.
JIM GROFF, DARRYL ROOSA AND ART SIMMONS,
Northampton
TO OUR READERS
DOONESBURY / By Gary Trudeau
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