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r �t <br /> AM <br /> Mashpee ieackerrs 74ssocla�.ion <br /> PO, Sox 524 <br /> a € Mashpee, Mcassacnuseuls 0264Q <br /> TO: Mashpee Select persons, Finance Committee, School Committee <br /> As a representative of the Mashpee Teachers' Association, I admit to Laving a vested <br /> interest in the school budget. And I do appreciate your task of trying to work together in <br /> an effort to find an appropriate school budget for the upcoming year. <br /> As teachers, we feet a strong sense of community and would certainly hope that the <br /> education of Mashpee's youth will not have to take a step backwards. For those of us <br /> who were here before there was a Mashpee High School, or a Coombs Elementary <br /> School, or even a Mashpee Middle School, it was with a particular sense of pride and <br /> accomplishment that we were able to open those doors to more than just a building. <br /> When the high school became a reality, a promise was made to the parents that we <br /> would be offering an education to their sons and daughters at least equal to what we had <br /> before. I believe in many cases, we surpassed those expectations. Likewise our <br /> elementary education has grown, but as resources draw thin, those programs we <br /> worked to build up are now placed in jeopardy. This is very disturbing. It is difficult to <br /> invest money in a venture based on previous commitment, but we believe it to be <br /> worthwhile. <br /> Public education is for all, and there are students at both ends of the spectrum that <br /> would be greatly impacted by impending loss of educational resources. At one end, <br /> there are those students, who have excelled and continue to strive for excellence. With <br /> school choice, do we run the risk of losing some of our best? Students who chose <br /> Mashpee based on promises made, and who have more than held up their end of the <br /> bargain deserve our support. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those <br /> students whose only hope for success is staying in school. Do we lose them now, <br /> because we can not make the system attractive enough to provide them with the <br /> incentive to continue? Can we afford that? <br /> Maybe because we are not in a position to have to answer directly to the town fiscally, <br /> we are able to have such a perspective. We would strongly urge all parties to consider <br /> the school budget as a function of educational responsibility as well as financial. We feel <br /> that we have great support from those parents that we are working with, but even more <br /> importantly, we feel the support of the people of Mashpee that are not directly involved in <br /> the schools. We believe that all of Mashpee feel the pride and commitment to education <br /> in all grades. Please let this support continue! <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Ted O'Rourke <br /> President. Mashpee Teachers Association <br />