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Todd replies to 2 readers' criticism of board of education

Letters from Our Readers

Now Mr. Bill Webster has resorted to name-calling in his

letters and I will not dignify that type behavior with a response.

I will, however, respond to other parts of his letter.

Under the Constitution of this state every school-age child

has a right to free public education. All citizens are taxed to pay

for that education. Mr. Webster has a right to enroll his children in

the Fayette system any day he wishes. He has the right to

choose to not enroll his children and then he has the responsibility to

educate them.

Math teams represent a specific school in a competition and

must be drawn from that student body. This is true for all

competitive activities. Absent this requirement schools could recruit

team members to represent them from anywhere. I suggest that

children who are home-schooled be organized into teams so they may

be able to compete.

Children in your care is an inclusive term and means any

child for whom you are responsible. For his information there are

biracial individuals and adopted children in my extended

family. I commend him for adopting children and sincerely hope

that adults continue to take children who need a home.

It was obvious that Bruce Davenport in his first letter

wanted assurances about his school tax bill before the final digest

was approved. The 1998-1999 budget was balanced and tentatively

approved on a projected 9.2 percent growth in the digest.

He has implied the school board would be taking

money which was not needed from the "windfall" due to the

increased value of the tax digest. I suggest that he go and examine the

projected 98-99 budget and point to areas which are not needed. I

suggest also that he give specific examples of the school board

being fiscally irresponsible between Jan. 1, 1995, to the present.

The bond millage reduction does happen when and if a

system decides to not pay off the debt early. I did not say or imply

that reduction was due to the increased digest.

Mr. Davenport also needs to illustrate what his term

"normal growth in the digest" means as compared to his "windfall"

and the difference in terms of funds that can be collected. He

also needs to define, "do the right thing," because others may

not agree.

I have requests from several parent groups for money

for projects not funded in the 98-99 budget. Perhaps Mr.

Davenport should publicly say to those parents how he would fund them.

It's time for him to provide specific examples, facts and figures

to prove his allegations.

The school board has the following options in the event

extra funds are available as a result of an increased digest:

Fund other unfunded needy projects;

Increase the system reserve account;

Roll back the millage; or

Do all of the above.

It would be helpful to hear from other citizens.

Bob Todd

Member, Fayette County Board of Education

Fayetteville

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