To the editor:

The local school board has perhaps the most unpleasant decisions ahead of them that any volunteer board has ever had to make. I appreciate the fact that they are listening to many groups and individuals and I appreciate the time it takes to do that. I would like to suggest a few ideas for them to consider.

First, don’t close any schools this year. A lot of money was spent on making New York School into one that could compare with more recently built buildings. It is definitely a community center that stretches far beyond the “school” day. Look at eliminating high school classes to save money. You could combine four or five Lifetime Sports classes into one old-school PE class, eliminating busing and a teaching position. There are classes with low numbers of students; we had a great curriculum at our high schools for years, but we can’t afford them today (maybe tomorrow).

Ask the city and county to have a conversation about combining the three respective maintenance yards — one site, one boss, one set of equipment. Have the same conversation about transportation.

Finally, let’s have a serious conversation about how we might attract young families back into some of our areas that need students — some kind of tax break or outright gift to qualified families so they can afford to buy the houses that used to be family homes but are now housing lots of college students.

Good luck to the board and don’t forget to tell them thanks for serving.