I have read with great interest the letters to the editor about the E-SPLOST vote. We moved to Fayette County nine years ago and chose the county for exactly one reason — the schools.

Both of our children have now graduated from Fayette County schools, and I have to say the decision was a good one.

However, the nine years have also allowed me to learn that Fayette County may have more selfish adults than any county in America. These adults are more concerned about themselves than the children in the community where they live.

Remember, our primary job as parents, grandparents and even great grandparents, is to make sure our children have better opportunities than we had.

The letters, including those from the write-in candidate, opposing the E-SPLOST clearly come from that population group. Not one single letter in opposition seems to pay any attention at all to the people this vote will most affect — the students.

None seem to address how such a vote will negatively impact students due to the trickle down effects of both state and federal unfunded mandates.

Instead, the letters focus on past board decisions and never mention the impact on students. Schools are about students and insuring their future in a strained economy. Seems to me that should be the focus of the letters.

The letters use the common tactics of today’s media and talk radio by giving a single example in literally thousands of decisions as the norm, rather than the exception.

I have not agreed with every decision and have voiced my concerns in the past. However, I cannot imagine anybody working with any organization of that size and not disagreeing with some decisions.

The letters point out funding decisions over the last five to ten years, making these individual events appear common. The truth [is] they are not common.

The letters also focus on the building of new schools as a waste of money and act as if changing the funding focus is little more than shifting money from a savings to a checking account.

These same folks would probably be writing letters claiming the board had pulled a “bait and switch” if they had attempted to go through the arduous process of reallocating the funding.

For those not familiar with school funding, it is not a simple process and often causes great turmoil. The con-SPLOST writers ask why the district did not “save for a rainy day.” It is a misuse of taxpayer dollars to not use the funding provided through taxes to support the students whose parents are paying the taxes.

The other issue brought up by this newspaper is the number of empty seats in buildings. Well, duh!

Who would want to have kids in schools that do not have some empty seats. We searched for schools with no portable classrooms when deciding where to buy a home in the county. To the letter writers and to the editors of this paper, I ask the following question: Would you want your children to attend an overcrowded school? I highly doubt that any of you would answer yes. It is part of the reason people choose Fayette County.

Enough about those writing in with half-truths and their own self-interests. I could use shaky numbers that I seriously question that were in several other letters and are used to simply give you data in a certain way. As a former math teacher, I know how to use statistics to support my view. Instead, let me give you five simple reasons to support the SPLOST.

First, keep the interest of the students first. In a county with so many high performing students, fine arts and advanced placement courses are very important. Because the programs do not get special funding from the federal government or state, they will be on the chopping block. Advanced placement because schools will not be able to afford offering lower enrollment classes and fine arts because they are funded by district.

Second, know that every district in the United States is suffering from the trickle-down of unfunded mandates. I see this daily as I travel to schools around the country. No Child Left Behind requires tutoring, transportation and testing, testing and testing. These are just a few of the things that are required in our schools, but no additional funding is seen.

The state of Georgia has lowered class size requirements. A noble idea. The state forgot to fund these requirements, though. The percentage of funding from the state shrinks every year, leaving more funding required from the local district.

Third, have you bought gas lately? Many districts across the country are looking at four-day school weeks to address the huge impact fuel costs are having on schools. The simple aspects, such as offering transportation that is convenient to parents and students, will have to be addressed if funds cannot be generated.

Fourth, you live in a bedroom community. The lack of major industry is such a large county means the tax base is not near what it is in some neighboring counties. This would be a non-issue with the airport was only a few miles farther to the southwest.

The problem is magnified by the high percentage of senior citizens with no connection to the schools. I need only to remind these folks that one of the first signs of problems in schools is an increase in crime during the day in a community.

I can only hope the loss of the SPLOST would not end up having negative repercussions on programs that help keep students in school.

Finally, with E-SPLOST you still have an incredible education bargain. One of the most amazing things about moving to Fayette County is how little is paid for an excellent education system.

The taxes are incredibly low compared to what I see around the country. Free textbooks, little or no activity fees and a likelihood of a chance for a tuition free college education are just a few examples of the bargain, and the system as a whole works.

Yes, each of us can probably give individual examples of problems, but the system works, as noted by the state test scores, schools recognized nationally and the low turnover of staff (a tip that the school or district is in turmoil).

Don’t listen to those who will try to sway you with individual examples and paint them as being the norm. Don’t be selfish and think about how you can support the kids in our community in a very important way. Think about how this vote will impact the students of Fayette County in the next few years and vote yes for the E-SPLOST.

“Fear of failure does not motivate those used to failure.”

Scott Warren

Director of Special Projects, SREB/HSTW

rswgoiu@aol.com

[Warren works for the Southern Regional Education Board, which on its website describes itself as “America’s first interstate compact for education, ... a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps government and education leaders in its 16 member states work together to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. ... SREB is supported by appropriations from its member states and by funds from foundations and state and federal agencies.”