North High issues have a long history
Thank you for the March 6 editorial concerning the North area. However, don’t put all the blame on Jim Shuping. Several current board members, as well as those from two previous boards, have failed to address North’s issues regarding declining student enrollment. This didn’t happen overnight. School officials have been aware of North’s dilemma.
When redistricting has been examined, board members have caved in. School districts around the country re-evaluate school lines regularly and adjust accordingly ó but not here. We would rather have overcrowding and an armada of trailers in an effort to avoid controversy.
In 2009, North will become 1A. However, it’s not too late for school officials to do the right thing. Support learning for all students, offer equal class offerings and provide “real” resources to struggling schools. Are we interested in all students or only ones in certain districts? And, please, don’t move 14 students. That will not address the problem, and I would consider such an action offensive. Re-examining lines would be much more beneficial.
Shrinking enrollment, loss of teachers, unequal course offerings, long travel distances for teams, loss of instructional time for athletes and loss of athletic revenues are not acceptable. This is not equality and certainly validates the feelings in the North community that North is the “throw away” school. We are doing a disservice to the students of North Rowan. By the way, when North can’t pay its athletic bills due to lost revenue, is the school system going to foot the bill?
Wake up, North area! We pay taxes like everyone else, and I’m tired of feeling like a second-class citizen. In October, North will celebrate 50 years in existence. Judging by the current situation, 50 more seems highly unlikely.
ó Wanda Gilland
Salisbury
Annexation issues
I am not in the proposed annexation area but I have strong feelings about the precedent that is being set. Never before has Rowan taxpayer money been spent to fight annexation proposals. I also note that when areas to be annexed are considered, they seem to pick out the more prosperous sections of the county. Wonder why?
I was really touched by the letter from the person who stated he was on his way back to Iraq to help fight for freedom for that country yet his freedom was being taken from him in having a say in whether to be annexed. Yet it is so true. County taxes are just that, money to be spent to benefit the entire county, not a select group of people.The people of Rowan County spend their money in the city limits. That is what is wrong with the federal, state, and local governments ó they can never get enough money.
People should learn to live within their means. It’s just another example of taking from the poor to give to the rich. If you aren’t already poor, someone is trying to scheme to make you poor.
ó Shirley Loflin
Salisbury
Get the facts right
I’m a 19-year-old who attends UNC-Asheville. I came home to Salisbury for spring break and discovered Mayor Susan Kluttz and the city of Salisbury have decided it’s in the “best interest” for the future of Salisbury to annex homes that aren’t even remotely close to the actual city.
Then my father attends a meeting to raise awareness about the forced annexation. The reason for this annexation? Salisbury would like to receive the tax dollars for the half of the Rowan County Airport that it doesn’t own. The tax dollars the county would lose from this are tremendous. The fact that Arnold Chamberlain lives in the area doesn’t compare to the money the county would lose if the commissioners did not fight this. I’m sure county taxes would increase. Not to mention the fact that city residents’ taxes might increase dramatically to push this annexation through.
I find it sad that, at 19 years of age and only being home for a week, I am able to better understand this subject than three-quarters of the people writing letters complaining about tax dollars used to fight the annexation.
Please get your facts straight before you try to voice your “knowledgeable” opinion.
ó Gregory Hicks
Asheville
Thank