I fully support education in Scarborough and have two children in the Scarborough public schools. Even if I did not have children in the schools, I would still be a supporter of education. I start my letter this way because all too often, those who question town and school expenses are accused of being anti-education. Sadly, these statements crystallize the problem we have with our elected officials.

They ignore the voices who say taxes are increasing too much. They ignore the people who say they do not want a new laptop computer program. They ignore the mandate in the Town Charter to hold a vote for capital requests greater than $400,000. They ignore the hundreds of parents who said that late starts negatively impact families and children. They ignore the request to put the entire town budget to a vote, not just the school budget.

In the face of our elected officials turning a deaf ear, voters unsurprisingly said no to the school budget. It was the only way to be heard. Now, the Town Council plans to hold a second vote a mere five days after approving the revised school budget. They may squeak out a win using these tactics, but as a town, we all lose when we are pitted against each other and left further divided. That is not leadership, and we deserve better.

Betsy Gleysteen
Scarborough