To the editor:

The Lawrence school board has indicated that they want more elementary schools closed next school year. At the same time, they have also increased the number of class periods at the high school level, which will necessitate more teachers to cover all the extra “bases.” If one were to look at the high school curriculum book, one would find already in place more options than most junior colleges have.

It is not an easy time to be on the school board, but it seems to me that our elementary-age students are bearing a larger-than-fair share of the budgetary cuts that have been necessary because of the state’s shortsighted funding of education. I believe that the best money a school board can spend is on the earliest grades.

Every level of K-12 should be dissected as these budget cuts have to be made, and decreasing the optional offerings to our high school students, instead of increasing them, would save far more money than closing more neighborhood schools. KU could be a very viable option for our best students who want some of these high-cost optional classes.

Finally, I would implore the school board not to touch the 15th Street boundary for the two high schools. The only way the second high school bond issue was passed was because the majority of voters finally believed that the boundary line of 15th Street would not be changed in future years, thereby ensuring equity for both schools.