TO THE EDITOR: The budget has passed, but the AuSable Valley Central School financial challenges remain. That is why we should continue attending board meetings to insure transparency about program management, long-range planning and fiscal accountability.
Mr. Parrow is replacing Ms. Bresett as board president. Hopefully, he continues navigating the board toward greater openness, more public discussion, and fewer executive sessions. Too often, important issues receive little discussion about justification, long-term costs, and affordability before receiving a unanimous vote.
Grants are frequently described as “free;” however, they come with requirements, reporting obligations, staffing needs, and often district expenses. The $175,000 tennis court grant covers construction, but that does not include long-term maintenance or costs for a competitive team. Certainly this tennis court could offer benefits for regular physical education, but still this grant, as do most grants, have recurring costs that deserve public discussion before commitment.
Another concern arose during the Special Education presentation, where it was reported that nearly half of AVCS students were receiving special education services. The NYS typical percentage ranges are 12-18%. The board should be concerned about this, but they had no comment.
The district anticipates receiving initially about $135,000 from the Champlain Hudson Power Express Project, with significant annual increases. That projected revenue should have been part of the budget discussions. Rep Cashman’s one-shot of $100,000 for the district received major noise, while this Champlain Project stream of cash has yet to be shared with the public.
Also, since the District Office closure was part of the budget savings, when is it being vacated and marketed?
If AVCS expects the community to fund their budgets, the board needs to buoy public confidence earned through openness, thoughtful discussion, and budgets that balance educational excellence with long-term affordability.
WALTER CHMURA
Keeseville
TO THE EDITOR: The president seems to believe if he cuts all the flowers spring will not come: “You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.”
A change is in the air. Our president “Bullied” congress in hopes of passing the Save Act. The president’s idea of limiting voting will not work even though his Republican Senate is weak. Our weak congress has allowed the President to have a war without congressional approval. The SCOTUS allows the President to challenge our rights to be a citizen as he tries to rewrite our 14th Amendment. It all goes on but in November of 2026 they will all have to answer. The flowers will be in bloom.
Voters will come out and Trump and his minions will lose power. In NY 21 we have a candidate that has no platform except that he supports Trump and that he employees lots of people in India while laying off Americans at his facility in Amsterdam, NY.
I guess America First means American’s lose their jobs first. We must ban together and not send this fellow anywhere except back to where he came from. We must send all these weakling politicians who cannot stand up to a tyrant back to where they came from. Then perhaps we can send our president back to where he came from.
That being NBC and the “Apprentice.” A make-believe world created by a television network, instead of the terror and foolishness our government has become.
JAMES NOVOTNY SR.
Gloversville