Another year but the same old story when it comes to funding schools in East Lyme. Recently the Board of Finance cut $450,000 out of an already bare bones budget proposal. More concerning are comments made by board members during the budget process that I found to be anti-education. These comments create an atmosphere that pits those of us who support reinvesting in our children and community against those who choose to blame the cost of educating our children as the root cause of the town's fiscal issues.

It is easy to scapegoat the children since the apathy that seems to be rampant in our community allows these comments and reductions to go forward without fear of these elected officials being held responsible for their actions. On the evening of April 20 there will be a public hearing at the high school on the budget. This is the last opportunity to tell the board that these cuts must not stand and to send to referendum a budget that adequately funds education. Years of cuts have degraded our once superior education system, lowered property values and forced families to look elsewhere to live. It is time to say enough is enough. Hold these officials accountable at election time.

Rocco R. Tricarico

East Lyme