Representative Town Meeting Annual Budget Meeting Materials - Day 4 (linked)

David Campo
From: Kelly Hurrell <kellyhurrell@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 12:35 AM
To: David Campo
Subject: Feedback for BOE budget cut
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Mr. Campo,
After watching the RTM meeting where the BOE budget was voted to be cut, |am very concerned about our schools in
the coming year.
Now is not the time to make cuts to the agreed upon budget, we need to support our schools and teachers now more
than ever. We have some children who will be returning to school behind due to distance learning, emotionally
traumatized from illness or deaths to family or friends, or simply the effects of social isolation. Furthermore, nobody
even knows what additional costs may be accrued if schools are unable to operate as normal next year. Schools will
need more resources to support students and teachers in this transition back to classrooms.
| do not believe the claims that small changes to perceived inefficiencies will be enough to make up this difference in the
budget, and valuable programs and staff WILL be cut. Furthermore, no RTM voter gave any indication that they had any
sort of plan to find the line items to be cut. This usually means the “extras” will be left unsupported. Things like the arts.
Support programs. Sports. Our kids need this enrichment to have a complete education, and plenty of studies have
shown its importance to academic achievement as a whole. In particular, Waterford’s value of the arts is one reason our
family chose to move to this town. This is a critical time for our schools, our teachers, our kids. The town will be turning
their backs on them if this budget cut stands.
Thank you,
Kelly Hurrell