Finley, Russell are best school board candidates
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Editor,
As all are aware by now, budget considerations, particularly personnel reductions, were discussed extensively at the regular monthly board of trustees meeting at the Linderman library. Most of the comments, I believe, were driven by emotions – not by research-driven facts or recognition of today’s fiscal reality. It also brought home to me that this may be the most important election the board of trustees and District #23 that voters have faced in my ten years as a trustee.
Several of us have been/are fiscally conservative and look very carefully at any proposals to ask the voters to lay out any more of their tax dollars to support the district. We consider the urgency of the need(s) and the general state of the economy as such requests (levies) might impact on all the citizenry. This includes, in my mind, those who may not be property owners but do, nevertheless, feel the effects of such levies in their rent and cost of other needed services. Hence, my historic reluctance, in the absence of overwhelming evidence of need, to support general fund levies, the cost of which, unlike building reserve levies, never go away.
I am aware of nobody on the board of trustees who looks forward to releasing certified or classified employees (absent incompetence, misfeasance, malfeasance or downright criminal behavior). Unlike the federal government, though, SD#23 can no more print money to make up for shortfalls than can the state. The state does have the authority to make financial decisions that affect us all – and it is from their largesse, or lack thereof, that we must make our budget choices and still provide the programs that are needed to educate our youngsters.
What all of this leads me to is the conclusion that we need more discussion based on fact, from the general public, stakeholders such as the teachers and classified employees and from the trustees. For these reasons, I urge, without hesitation or qualification, that the community support the re-election of Dr. Vernon Finley and Mark Russell to the SDS#23 board of trustees on May 3. Vernon remains a most effective, credible voice for the Native American students and community. Mr. Russell, on the other hand brings an objectivity to the position that we need more, not less of on the board. Frankly, I see no other candidate that we can be assured has the needed broad scope of interest and will look after Polson students best interests for a well-rounded education, yet be sensitive to the financial realities of our times.
Bob Hanson
Dayton
