LETTERS: School Board should have made cuts long ago

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

School Board’s ‘painful’ cuts should have been made long ago

Dear Editor:
After reading the front page article in the May 8 Palm Coast Observer and the parallel article in the online version, this Palm Coast resident is even more incensed over the upcoming June 7 “special” vote on property tax increase.

The School Board now admits that it has a “significant number of open seats in their classrooms“ and they expect a drop in enrollment of 283 next year. Yet, they still want the taxpayers to foot an increased tax bill. Are you people kidding us or do you think the folks paying those taxes are an endless source of revenue for your beck and call?

This voter thinks it’s the latter. It’s time for the voters to put the brakes on an out of control School Board. If we don't, this nonsense will never end.

Looking over the list of proposed cuts that the board purports to be painful, it’s perfectly obvious that many of these cuts should have been accomplished before they came back to the taxpayers for still more taxation. In fact, most of the cuts they lament make perfect sense to this voter. We taxpayers understand the need to school the next generation, but when I look over a list of “nice to have” items, it’s time for belt-tightening. Were doing it, so the School Board should, too.

On June 7, it’s time for the taxpayers of Flagler County to send a loud and clear message to the School Board: No.

Larry Stencel
Palm Coast

Cuts don't seem to be very painful for schools

Dear Editor:
I am writing about the fine the state of Florida is rendering on the Flagler County School Board of some $116,000 for failing to meet the class-size requirements.

Whose responsibility was it for counting the students that resulted in the fine? I assume Janet Valentine, the superintendent, has the ultimate responsibility. Who are underlings who are supposed to do the counting for the final report?

I might be so bold in asking if the person(s) is facing any disciplinary actions or will this counting error just disappear in the morass of administrators? What would have happened if a teacher were determined to have caused this huge fine? Would they still be still working in the school system? Further, where will the money come from to pay whatever fine is finally owed to the state? What programs will be curtailed due to this “counting” error?

The vote in June is certainly suspect if errors like this one continue.

I have been disturbed that a $116,00 fine can be hidden so well by the School Board, and it seems it is business as usual. Then I saw that if the graduation exercises are not held at the Ocean Center or in St. Augustine, but at the local schools instead, we will save thousands of dollars. There seems to be money to be saved with little pain in the schools.

Also we now have an assistant superintendent in Flagler in a position that was vacant for a few years. At what cost is this?

My wife and I are former teachers and have a bit of an insight into school expenditures. We lived through many budget issues in Connecticut and the School Board is so transparent as they paint a picture of despair.

Glenn W. Partelow
Palm Coast

An ounce of education spending better than a pound of jail spending?

Dear Editor:
The Wednesday, May 8, edition had three intriguing front-page articles, one having to do with our School Board struggling to reduce its budget plus two articles regarding protection: new quarters for the Sheriff’s Office and up to $15 million for an expanded jail. Hmm.

Can there be any correlation? Makes one wonder if the emphasis (and money) was on education/training would we require as much funding for protection.

Rod MacDonald
Palm Coast

Twelve miles per hour is too fast for stopping on red

Dear Editor:
I can’t believe I’ve read anything more foolish or irresponsible! In reply to a reader’s comment last wee, the editor’s note informed that the city won’t issue a citation if a driver slows to 12 mph or less when making a right turn on a red light.

A red light means stop! It does not mean to coast on through. One cannot adequately and safely pull into traffic, or check for walkers and bicycle drivers, without coming to a full stop. I already see too many folks carelessly coasting through stop signs. This “green light” from the city will only serve to facilitate more careless driving and disregard for the law. I guess anything goes out there on the road in Palm Coast!

Bob Hibbert
Palm Coast