Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Monday, April 5, 2010

We need to keep our students in mind

To the Editor:

We have heard the sad news, schools are laying off teachers. The governor has reduced school funding by $300 million which translates into less operating money for local school corporations.

HB 1367 gives schools some flexibility in transferring Capital Project Funds to the General Fund. Another solution is to spend down the cash balances and use the Rainy Day Fund.

If you notice, there haven't been any administrative cuts in the local paper. It's too easy to cut teachers and increase class size. Can we cut administrative services and not feel the pain? Most say yes as some corporations are top heavy.

Is it fair to have the beginning administrators that make what a 30-year teacher makes? I am shocked to find out the salaries of these individuals. Some even have full-time assistants.

Call your school board members and ask them if it is fair to endanger our student's futures by reducing class choices and increasing class sizes when others are still bringing in a large paycheck. Some see this as the governor's plan to dismantle public education.

Community members need to find out how much schools have in the infamous "Rainy Day Fund." I've heard some could be as high as a million dollars. Could some be used to keep those teachers in the classroom? Should we use a one-time funding solution?

Five percent can be transferred from Capital Projects to also keep teachers. If you could have $900,000 in CPF, then 5 percent would be about $45,000. Are there other areas to save money?

You will hear that they do not know the future. No one does. We do know that slight improvements have already been seen in the economy. If we hurt our children now, we will certainly see it in the future. That we know.

Let's look at funding solutions that do not hurt our children.

Mary Puntney

Bloomfield


Booker family says thanks for the support

To the Editor:

We feel so blessed because the love and support shown to us during our recent loss. We want to thank our family, friends, and neighbors from the bottom of our hearts.

Special thanks to Dr. Larry Rink, Denise and Karen, and the PCU nurses at Bloomington Hospital. We want to thank Newkirk's Funeral Home, Terry, Becky, Freedy, and Scott. We'd like to thank Bethel Community Church, Faith Community Church, the Rev. John Preston, Shawn Farris, and Cletus Bough.

Thanks to the church ladies for a wonderful meal.

We are thankful for each of you and will never forget your kindness.

May God bless you all.

The family of Chet Booker

Madge Booker

Dugger

John and Dianna LeDune

Dugger

Johnny, Jen, Danielle and Hunter LeDune

Dugger

Dusty, Merry and Westin LeDune

Linton


Lyons family

appreciates prayers

To the Editor:

Our sincere thanks first all to our Heavenly Father for the daily improvement of our dear wife and mother Barbara (Bobbie) Reed.

We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers, cards, calls, food, and well-wishes from hundreds of wonderful caring people.

We want this to be our way of thanking you all so much and ask God's blessing on all of you.

We firmly believe in the power of prayer and ask you to turn to God once more with thanks for her healing.

Don, Bobbie Reed and family

Lyons