Believe it or not, it’s almost spring. One telltale sign is to once again read about the Hamilton School District’s “wish list”. It reminds me of the wish list I used to have as a youngster around Christmas time. Such as it was, it was only a wish, NOT a need. Same thing here.
The glossy posters, the choreographed meetings and spin doctor’s approach to the request is tolerated, but not really appreciated as it doesn’t address the gloomy forecast of continuing declining enrollments. Instead of the grandiose concept of “newness” as being the only way to go in the face of economic problems, it’s time to maintain, not to build, nor to relocate that unnecessarily burdens the Daly neighborhood any more than the two times for gridlock that we already have. I live on Daly and don’t appreciate this proposal. There is already a health and safety issue for residents, current staff and students; just ask the young lady who got hit there last year.
Valley employment is down, unemployment and welfare figures are continuing to rise; taxes keep going up and income doesn’t. Many of the residents of Ravalli County are on fixed incomes and don’t have spare $ for frivolous “wi$he$”. As a retired college professor who had the privilege of teaching over 11,000 students, I would support reasonable and proper education funding. This list is neither one. Perhaps you should rethink your efforts. I can’t support your suggestions.
Larry Strate
Hamilton