To the editor:

A couple of years ago, Lawrence spent tax money to refurbish several schools in eastern Lawrence. One of the schools, Kennedy, was then closed as a “regular” elementary school, and the children were sent to other schools, no longer within walking distance of home.

Now, discussion includes more school closings, larger classes (not at all optimal for learning) and even consideration of a four-day school week.

In the mail the past few days was the annual valuation notice from the Douglas County appraiser, with a notice reminder that “property taxes also fund your local public schools.” How will our students hope to learn to thrive, and to grow in knowledge with the above things being considered? How will parents be able to support an extra day of child care should the schools ever reduce the number of learning days? Parents will have to add work time to pay for child care, or perhaps leave a job to be home with their child. They may even need to sell their home if their two incomes cannot pay the mortgage. It’s a double-edged sword, Lawrence.

It becomes a no-win situation for families and a disservice to the children we hope to educate to be good thinkers and problem solvers. Let’s show them a good example.

Sharon L. Hettinger,

Lawrence