In response to Forum contributor Alan J. Patterson Sr.’s letter with concerns over the Lebanon School District budget (“Vote ‘no’ on bloated Lebanon school budget,” Feb. 2). As a Lebanon resident I am outraged as well. I can’t believe that the budget isn’t bigger.
If only 22% of it is going to maintaining buildings, buses and everything else the schools need, then that budget needs to increase even more! No wonder we have kids getting lukewarm food for hot lunch because certain schools don’t have the ability to cook their own meals and the buildings need so many upgrades.
The letter also made a big deal about the increase in the budget. The inflation rate for 2021 is expected to be around 2.2%, so of the $1.7 million increase that prompted a “wow,” almost half is just inflation. What we’re talking about is not really that much in the grand scheme of things.
For those who stuck on this supposedly high percentage of the budget that goes to salary and benefits, shouldn’t we be paying a livable wage to the people who have gone to school and trained for so many years, and who continue to train? I mean, isn’t that what everyone is pushing for these days?
We are trusting the children of our town to be educated by the teachers and support staff of our schools, and it doesn’t seem to me that this is where we should be making the cuts. If nothing else, this is an area we should be increasing. Now I know that everyone has a budget to live on and taxes aren’t easy to pay and everything is going up, but cutting school budgets is not the place to do it. Not to mention, the better the schools are the higher your property values will be. Just a little food for thought.
SCOTT LUCIER
West Lebanon
It is always a pleasant experience for me to read the full-page advertisements presented by the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center. Such an ad appeared on Jan. 19, and also on Friday. For all students in the Upper Valley to have this option couldn’t be more rewarding.
One summer I was able to participate in the Culinary Arts Program at HACTC. This course, along with others, was offered as a Continuing Education Course for educators from the Upper Valley. My son participated in the Culinary Arts Program during his senior year in high school. I was a public school student in Chicago during the 1940s, and any student had the option of attending a technical high school or a more academic high school.
Also in the Jan. 19 edition there was a Bloomberg Opinion editorial headlined “Harnessing America’s Potential: Education and training will be crucial for the country’s economic recovery.” The third paragraph highlights the necessity of the new administration to “develop career-focused technical high schools.”
Right on! Way to go!
BEVERLY S. WEEKS
White River Junction
Weathersfield voters in the upcoming election are being asked by petition to amend the town’s zoning bylaws to allow unregulated wood processing in all districts on parcels over 25 acres. As I read the proposed amendment, this could allow wood processing of any scale, at any time of the day or night, at any distance from a neighbor, with no restrictions on noise, dust or truck traffic.
I believe that allowing wood processing in many districts as a conditional use, where conditions could be placed as to hours of work, noise limits, or scale of operation, would be appropriate. But unregulated wood processing seems like a bad idea to me, and I’ll be voting against the amendment.
I’m a member of, and currently chair, the Weathersfield Zoning Board, but these are my personal views only.
WILLIS WOOD
Weathersfield
Kudos to Vermont Gov. Phil Scott for his transparency and thoughtful, science-based response to the pandemic. And a special shout-out to the medical and administrative staff who were giving the vaccine at the church in White River Junction where I got it.
Everything about my visit there was professional. They were polite, efficient, answered all questions and made us old folks feel reborn. Hopefully, everyone will have a similar experience.
JIM WILSON
Strafford
So, you’re taking your dog for his or her walk? Seriously? Buckle up. This subject is not for tea time chatter.
When you have to go to the bathroom, you go right away. Your dog feels the call of nature, too, but he must hold it and patiently wait for you to take him out. Want to trade places with him?
When you are ready you take him out, but you don’t pay attention. You walk briskly along and he has no choice but to do the same.
So, watch what your dog is doing. Stop when he stops. Let him enjoy sniffing the grass and everything, and then give your dog time to do his business. This is his time to enjoy. You will spend all the rest of the day doing what you enjoy.
Also, he needs to find the right place, so instead of just dragging him along without looking at him, pay attention.
It breaks my heart when I see a dog assume the position only to be jerked by the neck at that very moment and force-marched along by an uncaring person. I want to scream. I want to run out and make a citizen’s arrest.
Please, think of this the next time you head for the powder room. Imaging being abruptly pulled right off the pot. Unthinkable, isn’t it?
For the love of dogs who cannot write this for themselves.
ANNE BAUERDORF
Windsor