By Zypporah Mitchell
As a ninth grader at Harwood Union High School, I’m concerned about the budget. Part of what's missing from this conversation is the student voice, and I'd like to contribute mine, and talk about how this problem, from my perspective, will affect our school community now, but in the future.
I ask you to take your time to read and consider my worries. I’m aware that the Harwood Unified Union School District is willing to take actions, but if these actions don’t address the current budget problem, the quality of the education for myself and my peers is at risk. Also, teachers and administrators are at risk of losing their jobs.
In the last budget that the Harwood district proposed, only 29% of registered voters cast ballots for the budget. We ask that if you have the access and ability to vote, then vote, and vote yes. We learn about the importance of taking part in the democratic process at school, I feel that this is too important to sit out.
I’m aware of how much our community knows about this situation. I do know that one main issue is the worry about property taxes increasing. I have heard that some are voting no to the budget as a way to send a message to Montpelier, and as a way to express personal and economic anger. And, while I know it is not only students and staff who will be impacted by this, we are the ones that will have to suffer the repercussions.
At this moment in our revised budget we are losing programs and teachers which results in fewer class offerings, meaning not only are teachers losing their jobs, but students are losing access to classes, like STEM, that would help us enrich our education.
I came to Harwood Union last year in eighth grade. When I arrived, the atmosphere was very different – I wasn’t worried about my future, and I felt I had a stable education. As of this year, I've opened my eyes to the education system, with constant budget and tax problems, I am worried that it won’t be a stable environment for me or my peers in the future.
I've heard teachers and other students talk about how classes will become bigger if staff start leaving, but when I lived in New Hampshire classes were big, it was difficult to focus or get my work done in time. When I came to Harwood, I noticed that the classes were smaller and I noticed an improvement in my skills and mindset. Teachers here do go out of their way to support students and get them the help they need to improve their learning.
I have many goals in life, and in the past, I've felt strongly that the Harwood school district would help me reach those goals. Now because of recent events like the talk about teachers leaving and a lack of a school budget, I’m not sure I still feel that way. In the future of my education, I want to achieve goals that will send me to a good college and to medical school. Harwood has had many offerings during the 2024 school year, but not many open to ninth graders. Cutting counseling, administrators, and field trip coordinators could lead to limited offerings.
We need to come together as a community to pressure our lawmakers to change school funding without sacrificing the quality of our education.
Mitchell lives in Warren.
