Tale of Two Communities

January 23, 2006
In response to Boris G. von York's letter published on Jan. 13. (in the Rutland Herald)

"Those who are wealth-advantaged should stop their demagoguery and obfuscation on the issue of education funding and assume their fair share in assuring that Vermont's children...get a good education, regardless of personal and community wealth."

Mr. von York must have never visited the Ludlow school district. I, a recent graduate of Black River High School, would like to correct him on his assumption of community and personal wealth. Okemo resides in Ludlow and that, Mr. von York, is where the high property tax and house worth comes from. Many of the actual residents of Ludlow are below poverty level, many of whom work seasonal jobs for Okemo.

The school itself has been at risk of shutting down multiple times in the past. Both Rutland and Springfield schools have football teams, auditoriums and real cafeterias. Ludlow, on the other hand, cannot afford any of these things. The theater department performs on the stage in the Town Hall, the stage in the school's gym is used for both the elementary, middle and high school cafeteria. The high school is structually the same as it was when my father graduated in 1970; there have been no improvements. Many programs that the school has are only in existence thanks to the hard work of teachers who obtain grants.

I was extremely active in the school when I attended and I can assure everyone that we are not a wealthy school district nor a wealthy town. That assumption is what puts Black River High School at risk of closing year after year. Springfield and Rutland take our money and no serious investigation has gone into looking at the quality of the Ludlow school district.

I agree that everyone should assume their fair share in the education of Vermont's children, which is why I support saving the Ludlow school district by allowing us to spend some of our own money on our own school.

It may be true that Ludlow had the opportunity to improve their facilities before Act 60 came into existence, but are we going to hold children hostage for past mistakes? There needs to be some way to save schools that are in critical need, like Black River High School. Under the present structure we cannot possibly raise enough money to fix it ourselves.

KRISTANCE P. HARLOW

Mount Holly