To the editor:

No reasonable person doubts school board members’ sincerity. What is doubted is listening ability regarding community desires! Voting results emphatically declare opposition to closing smaller schools yet some elected officials have betrayed constituents’ trust post elections.

In countless meetings, the public has recited valid educational reasons for maintaining smaller schools in certain neighborhoods; they believe that a smaller environment best supports their children’s educational needs. For East Heights and New York schools, there is no indication that equity is served through consolidation. Cordley, Riverside and Centennial patrons reinforce this position.

The school board must address a central issue: Why isn’t smaller better for certain students with well-defined needs?

Can the school board explain why it supports an Alternative High School based on the concept that smaller is better for certain older children but not at the elementary level? To close small elementary schools yet build a “small” facility for high school students is blatantly hypocritical!

School board members state they hear from consolidation supporters. Where are the people who only speak privately? Do they have more persuasive power than those who speak publicly?

“Equity” as described by the school board is not convincing. The public does understand district financial constraints. In economic hard times, people look carefully at budgets, community and personal. It is doubtful that bonds will pass when the expenditure is not convincingly worth tangible and intangible costs. Maintaining the facilities we have seems more economical as well as equitable.

Eugenia L. Bryan,

Lawrence