TO THE EDITOR:

My wife, Katrina Bowles, loves art almost as much as she loves Lincoln County. Born and raised in Lincoln County, she turned down more lucrative offers in order to teach at home. Katrina has built an impressive visual arts program at LCMS/ LCHS. Her students have won many awards and donated their time to projects to better the community. The Art Club completed a historic restoration of a vintage Coca-Cola mural in Lincolnton last year and completed a wall mural at LCMS this year. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of these great, talented students over the past couple of years.

It distressed Katrina to hear that in order to add another elective class while meeting budget pressures that visual arts may be reduced or eliminated altogether. She is concerned about rural, and in many cases financially disadvantaged, students losing access to culture that they might not otherwise have. She sees students receiving special education services flourish as artists in her class. For struggling students, she sees their achievements as a source of pride.

My wife’s concerns weigh on me. What’s important to my wife is important to me; and I have grown to love Lincoln County and the people who make it a special place. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of her fellow teachers, students, and parents. They are bright, talented, hardworking people who deserve a lot of respect. Lincoln County is a small community, but it’s not filled with small minds. A debt of gratitude is owed to the dedicated school teachers of Lincoln County for the quality education that they provide.

Budget reduction options were presented at the Board meeting last Wednesday night. The proposals almost solely impacted teachers. Some proposals included: not replacing retiring teachers, terminating teachers, completely eliminating local pay supplements – but only for teachers, work reduction/furlough days, etc. I urge the Board to weigh every option before cutting teachers and educational programs.

McDuffie County recently announced plans to save $250,000 by consolidating one school. In contrast, the Lincoln County School Board plans to house grades 5-8 in the current middle/high school and 9-12 in the new school. The new school is large enough and was funded to accommodate middle and high school students. After discussing teacher impacting budget cuts last Wednesday, the Superintendent discussed beginning the process to solicit bids for furniture and equipment for the new school. Now is not the time to buy unnecessary furniture and equipment and operate two half-occupied schools. Denise Freeman appears to be the only Board member pressing for cutting costs before cutting teachers, and her fellow Board members should take her suggestions to heart.

No one questions the severity of the economic situation. Further cuts may become necessary, but not without thoroughly reviewing obvious alternatives. Let’s leave all options on the table and hold the elected and appointed officials accountable to find better, practical solutions. Bad decisions now will mean lower quality of education and higher property taxes later.

Respectfully, DALE BOWLES