What happened? Change in leadership happened. During my time here, the school system has employed 5 school superintendents. Two were long-term superintendents serving 20+ years and 14 years. These superintendents invested themselves in Northampton County and the school system flourished. Their objective was “to grow their own” teachers and administrators — people who would also be invested in the community in which they lived.

In the last 10 years, we have seen the hiring of 3 superintendents and the departure of 2 superintendents. Their short tenures have left the school system without continuity, collaborative leadership, respect of teachers, and a committment to the community. Instead of working and living in the community, our current superintendent, 2 principals, 1 assistant principal, 1 central office administrator, and many teachers currently commute from across the bay. Where were they when two buses had accidents and parents and students needed reassurance? Where were they when “our” community was in the path of a hurricane and shelters were opened in our schools? Were they invested enough to be in the trenches with the rest of us?

The above article also mentioned the failure of the schools to teach cursive writing although it is listed in the Standards of Leaning Objectives that must be taught. Why is it not taught? The answer is simple. Teachers are required to focus on the core subjects that are tested by the state. Cursive writing is not tested, therefore it takes a back seat to English, math, history, and science because they are tested.

Mr. Lindeman is correct. Kids are our future, and we as a community, state, and nation must decide what’s more important — teaching to the test or giving our kids the skills necessary for them to be contributing members of society.

I understand that it all comes down to revenue. Northampton is the 2nd poorest county in the Commonwealth. However, revenue is only one lever that the county has at its control. The Board of Supervisors needs to determine what the top priorities are with the funds available and ensure that budget monies are allocated accordingly. Between public education for our children and caring for our elderly/disabled, you probably have 80% of the county’s need covered right there.

For example, instead of buying a new truck for the County, consider buying a used one or fix the one you already have. Likewise, the charge should be that all County agencies should look for ways to trim their budgets. Municipal government should be lean and efficient. If it’s not, something’s wrong.

The county needs to constantly look at how to also increase revenue. If not by taxes, then by attracting more people to live here, by carefully planned development, and by attracting new business and providing incentives for growth for those that are already here. More jobs, more people, more revenue, more money available for things like TAG teachers. This stuff isn’t new. It’s just stuff the county hasn’t been able to execute very well — but they need to.

Education is the root of the problem for us, not just locally, but nationally. If we want to reduce the number of people on public assistance, medical costs and the resultant burden on us all for the costs associated with paying for chronic disease treatment, and servicing our ever-growing prison population, we need to better educate our children.

Educated children become educated adults and are more likely to make better choices and to be better prepared for pursuing better paying careers — and thus ending the cycle of poverty.

Properly funding education is an investment in our future. When we determine that a new office chair, truck, holiday party, etc. is more important than educating our kids, we’ve taken a very wrong turn. Accreditation is not a “nice to have” it is a “must” and a priority. If the county isn’t pursuing fixing this with every fiber of effort, then they should be held accountable. The kids — the future — of Northampton County is at stake.