To the Editor:
“Ring….” The homeroom bell rings and I rush to my seat. It is the first day of school and I am excited. This is the year I am going to learn to play volleyball, paint Picasso’s masterpieces, and begin the clarinet. The teacher starts to hand out schedules. I look down at mine. No gym? No art? No music? The teacher answers my questions without me even having to ask. “I am sure you are all wondering why there are no exploratories this year. Due to budget cuts, all the exploratory classes had to be discontinued and teachers let go.” She pauses. “Well, class, have a nice first day of school.” My heart sinks. This is going to be the worst school year ever.
This may sound like fiction, but if the Berkshire Hills school budget does not pass, it could become our reality. A school’s main job is to educate students in a broad range of subjects and prepare them for later life. Students are young and still discovering their strengths and what they wish to pursue. Some kids struggle with academic classes, and classes such as gym, art, and music give them a chance to excel. The proposed school budget already contains cost reductions. By voting it down and forcing further cuts, Great Barrington voters diminish these opportunities. An education is extremely important for a successful future, and no one has the right to take that away from anyone else. At Monument Valley Regional Middle School, in the school year 2014-2015, the average student received forty-five days of art and ninety days of gym. In the 2015-2016 school year, some students spent only twenty-two days in art and forty-four days in gym. If we continue at this rate, these classes could disappear all together in the near future.
Budget cuts eliminate important staff members. Schools provide numerous jobs, including the 236 positions occupied in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. Decreases in the budget could leave dedicated teachers unemployed, greatly affecting them and their families. Paraprofessionals and art teachers are at the highest risk, as well as the whole early kindergarten program at Muddy Brook Elementary. With less staff, the remaining teachers must work noticeably harder to fill the void, making it more difficult for them to teach to their full potential. The school budget needs to pass so that teachers can educate students to the best of their abilities.
Cuts in the fiscal budget do not only affect the school community, but the entire town. These budget cuts worsen the school’s reputation, which can cause low enrollment and, in the worst case, the school could even shut down, as experienced by Hyde Park High School in Boston. Budget cuts also send a negative message about how much Berkshire County cares about its schools and students. The people who vote “no” to passing the school budget use the burden on Great Barrington taxpayers as a reason for their choice, arguing that Great Barrington pays more of the school taxes than is fair. Tax allocation is a matter that should be dealt with separately from the school budget. Some people with children in the district even vote “no,” saying that their kids will not be able to live in Great Barrington when they are older if the taxes stay this unreasonable. However, without a passing school budget and a good education, it will be difficult to live and pay taxes anywhere. A failed school budget gives the impression that our community does not value education. On June 13, 2016, we might be able to change this view of our area.
It is June 13, 2016, the day of the final vote, and I am ready. On my way, I pass people asking questions and others making unnecessary, rude comments. Striding confidently down the street, I make my way across town. Finally, I reach my destination. I walk boldly into the Monument Mountain Regional High School auditorium, eager to see if the budget will pass. I am determined to do my part to secure a bright future for young scholars in Berkshire County. Now, by voting “yes,” you can contribute, and do your part for education in our community.
Ruby Citrin
Great Barrington
The writer is sixth grader at Monument Valley Regional Middle School.
