Dear neighbors

Dear neighbors,

I just sent the following note to our three federal legislators through online posts at:

http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm

http://www.house.gov/formwelch/issue_subscribe.htm

and

As you may know, the Senate version of the stimulus package removed funds for school infrastructure that the House had approved. For those of you who read these posts, you know how much our schools need renovation funds :(

Dear Senator /Congressman,

PLEASE make sure that the House-approved funds for education infrastructure are kept in the final (reconciled) stimulus package. Spending on education infrastructure will create jobs right away, and help stop us from constantly increasing property taxes to pay for building repair in our aging schools. Spending on education infrastructure is especially critical in Vermont because the State has had a moratorium on contributions for school capital infrastructure costs for three years, which has increased the backlog of needs, shifted the burden of keeping our buildings open to local property taxes, and undermined the principal of equal educational opportunity established under Act 60.

Vermonters approve school budgets because they know that good public schools are the heart of our communities. Modern and energy-efficient buildings will be a great contribution to school transformation for the 21st century, and also a great stimulus for our local economy. I believe that our legislators should strenuously represent Vermont's commitment to public education by fighting for school infrastructure funds. Our kids' future is at least as important as a bridge or road.

Thank you for your service,

Amy Werbel

Ward 5 School Commissioner

12 Catherine Street

awerbel@bsdvt.org