the school budget at their regular meeting on May

the school budget at their regular meeting on May 7.

Please call your representative on the School Board and your representative on th6 Board of Supervisors. Attend the public hearing. Encourage your friends and neighbors to support the school budget. The supervisors and School Board need to hear from you, their constituents.

If the proposed school budget is significantly reduced and the Superintendent and School Board are adamant about raising salaries - which they must be - the result inevitably will be loss of educational programs for students.

The arts and sports programs have been frequent targets when schools all over the country have been faced with a crisis in funding. We cannot let that happen here.

I will talk with Ron Frazier, my representative on the Board of Supervisors, and urge him to do two things: (1) to pass the school budget as presented, and (2) to show strong, creative leadership to solve the more critical - long term problem of state funding, for Rappahannock County.

I will also call Wes Mills, my school board representative, in support of his work as past School Board Chairman. Although he and I don’t always agree on some issues, I respect his service and commitment and his work and the work of his colleagues on the Board, especially during this difficult time of year.

During the onslaught at the public hearing, this man - who has always shown wonderful optimism for the future of our students and our community - became visibly discouraged. I hope citizens will remember that public service is tough on public servants.

Ours is a vibrant, strong community. I no longer have children in the school system, but this is my duty as a citizen of this wonderful community. Please contact your representatives. We are all in this together.

Kathryn Treanor

Amiss ville