To the Editor:
I read in last week’s Wandererthat the Marion FinCom has had issues with the Old Rochester Regional School budget. After following Tri-Town meetings, it is a well-known fact that all three towns would like our Regional School District to be more proactive and transparent in their communication of long term and short term budgetary planning. It is a fact that financial planning is essential for capital expenditures and managing debt.
What concerned me is FinCom member Karen Kevelsen’s remarks about students getting a “mediocre education”, and her claims that parents she doesn’t even know have complained to her. I’m a parent who has been involved in many school activities and had the pleasure of watching four of my children grow up in the Tri-Town. Three of them attended ORR. One attended a private school, so I have that additional perspective. All three who attended Old Rochester were provided with the skills to succeed, and were prepared for higher education with the availability of honors and AP classes. These are facts from a “named parent”.
Further well-known facts about Old Rochester; 28% of the seniors this year were inducted into the National Honor Society, there are 28 clubs for students to participate in, there has been a 9% increase in graduates attending highly selective universities since 2017. This year there were 70 AP scholars and 16 AP scholars with distinction. I could go on about the facts pertaining to the outstanding athletic department and drama club achievements over the recent years, but I think you get the point.
Maybe Ms. Kevelson’s negative third party statements were made to influence her peers. Regardless, the statement was uncalled for and irrelevant when the real facts are that we should be building communication with the administration, not smearing the entire institution.
Respectfully
Anthony M. Days, Marion
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