Dear Slate Valley Community:

One of the most important things we can do as a community is educate our children. Providing an education and support is the most affordable way to ensure that our future young adults will be valuable contributors to society. As taxpayers, we should look at it as an investment. I understand that there are residents who would like to spend less to pay fewer taxes. I also know some would like to see more in the budget to offer more for our students. It costs to educate our children.

I believe all kids have the right to a good education. I substitute teach. It can be an exhausting and stressful day. I know about both because I am a farmer, but I sub because I love to help out and see what a typical school day looks like. At the end of the day, I go home without the constant worries teachers carry for their kids, such as where the students are with their work, thinking of various level lesson plans to suit each student for the week, and making sure they’re ready and prepared for the next grade or even for what the world has in store for them. My point is, teachers have a lot expected of them to get our students ready for the next steps in life.

I went to Orwell Village School from 1976 to 1980. Then Fair Haven Union High School until 1984. To say the least, I did not have a very good school experience. I look at school now and feel it is a better place and that I would have had a better education. I feel I would have been happier. I look at the kids now and they are ready to learn. The students like being in school and learning. Slate Valley has a good group of teachers and staff all around. If we want to retain our personnel and attract new ones, we need a budget. People are not going to want to move into our school district or come work for the school if we have uncertainty. We need to come together as a community for our children, grandchildren and future children. As a community of the Slate Valley Unified Union School District, we need to give our students the support they deserve.

Peter Stone

Orwell