percent. He feels it would be a good idea

percent. He feels it would be a good idea to have contractors in this county look at the budget with the board. He offered to help save $6500 on the roof costs. .. t<

Joe Reinboldt questioned how the pay raises were justified when remediation is needed. He said that the tuition at Wakefield is less than the per pupil cost at the county’s public schools. He suggested rebates for people who do not send kids to the schools. “Please don’t let the tax increase go through. This is extortion,” he pleaded.

Principal Raye Tupper of the elementary school supported the budget and pointed out how often teachers and other school employees work late hours at the school on their own time. She asked.the Board to consider the budget the way as it is.

Barney O'Meara and Rick Kohler both said they are proud to be taxpayers. Mr. O’Meara said he believes the county does a good job of “getting the biggest bounce for the buck.” Because federal and state funds have been cut back, the community must take up the slack, said Mr. Kohler.

Dr. Wemer Krebser and Kathryn Treanor both support the budget. Dr. Krebser said he is perfectly happy to pay the tax and that it would be outrageous to cut the budget and not educate the children. Mrs. Treanor said she knows she will have to set aside more money for taxes each month, but that the remedial aide positions will be critical to the future success of the schools. “It seems to me the time is now to plan for the future,” she said.

Bonnie Lofton sees a need for remedial help at the high school level as well as the elementary school level, though none is offered at the high school. She questioned if raising taxes was the only option to pay for what is needed in the budget.

Because we cannot pay the upfront costs, we are in a continual game of catch-up, said school board member Rosa Crocker. She suggested getting busy finding solutions. “We must promote the expectation of success,” she said.

Sharon Kilpatrick said she believes it is hard to realize what special education is costing, and that there seems to be no limit as to what it will cost, as it goes up more each year.

School board member Ron Makela feels that a child’s well-being, whether physical or mental, is ot* the utmost importance. He asked the board to give the schools as much as they possibly could.

Jeanette Hughes and Grade Gillis urged people to attend school board meetings, which are open to the public. They also praised the school board for their job working on the budget. Ms. Hughes said that most of the questions raised at the hearing could have been answered if people had attended school board meetings.

The earliest date that the Board of Supervisors can adopt the school budget will be Monday, 54ay 5.