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Posted
Oct. 25, 2002
| Spend
Skate Park Money on Schools |
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To the editor:
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| Where are the school teachers, principals and PTA members
in the skate park debate? Why have we not heard from that
portion of our community? There should be discussion about
the $2.5 million surplus in the reserve fund being targeted
to schools. |
| I would think that with $2.5 million dollars available and
given the current status of the local economy, that such a
large sum of money could be put to good use by the Reston
area schools. In justifying why she should be reappointed
to the board of governors, the RCC executive director stated
that one of her goals is to increase programming to "òspend
down the surplus in the reserve fund." I hope that as a part
of her formulation of the reserve fund spend plan, she has
coordinated with local educators and education activists,
but there is no evidence of that. |
| Almost half ($1 milion) of the RCC budget surplus is currently
targeted for construction of the skate park at the YMCA site.
As has been widely publicized, this will benefit about 5 percent
of local youth. It seems to me that the infusion of this cash
into the public school system would benefit 80 percent or
90 percent of Reston youth. |
| Books, computers, upgraded facilities, extended operating
hours for programs, initiation of special programs, all immediately
come to mind as worthy expenditures, and I suspect more would
become apparent with some dialogue. |
| Consider that the latest model computer can be purchased
for $1,000, so the $2.5 million surplus reserve fund will
buy 2,500 brand new computers for our Reston classrooms. Surely
such assets would have a major positive impact on local school
activities, programs and projects. |
| I would like to hear some public debate about how up to
$2.5 million might be spent within the local Reston schools. |
| Rosalie Williams |
| Reston |
Copyright © 2003 The Herndon Publishing
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