Minutes 05/18/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1989 ADDENDUM (Prepared Statement By Vice-Mayor Williams On 1989-90 Budget Request Submitted 'By Martinsville City SchOol Board) I appreciate very much the letters that I have received from many of our citizens expressing opinions on the decision made by the members of the Martinsville City School Board pertaining to its 1989-90 budget request. If I did not know better, I would have felt that the members of the School Board were using reverse psychology as they arrived at their final decision on their budget. They are honest, astute individuals whose concern is for the betterment of each pupil enrolled in our school system. Each member of the Board has a child or has children in attendance now or has had one or more offspring in our school system at some time. Therefore, I am sure that each of these persons has a sincere interest in the progress and the success of the school system as a whole. I also have received a letter from some people who, in my estimation, have become frustrated to the extent that they felt a need to threaten the members of Council if these members fail to vote "pro-education", whatever that means. I am offended by such a letter or by words or actions that constitute a threat. In fact, in response to an outright threat, I am afraid I would be compelled to vote against whatever the threat-maker proposed. I have been a member of the Martinsville City Council for five years. In not one of those five years have I ever voted for a "cut" in the school budget. I see no reason to change my position on this matter. I have enjoyed my tenure as a member of Council and, as long as I am able to do so, I shall continue to be available for service to our community. If I am fortunate enough to be re- elected, I shall continue to serve to the best of my ability. If I am not re- elected, I feel that my life will go on as usual. Even at the risk of not being re-elected, I cannot in good conscience vote for the School Board budget as presented. It is difficult for me to understand the elimination of people who are more closely associated with the students - in fact, the teachers - while retaining personnel who have little or no firsthand contact with the students. If this plan becomes a reality, I feel that the City School system will lose more students. There are other schools in this area which are getting praise and publicity for their students' academic achievements as well as for their athletic prowess. , , , , ,