To the Editor:

This is not necessarily directed to the editor as much as it is meant for the Potsdam Central School District Board of Education and the Superintendent.

In the past three to four weeks I have heard on the radio and read in the papers of the dire circumstances with regard to the financial crisis that is and will continue to plague our school district for years to come. The financial aid from the State of New York is being cut dramatically for Potsdam and many surrounding school districts.

I recognize the reasoning to “get the word out” now so we can prepare ourselves for the inevitable cuts to spending that unfortunately will cost staff and faculty jobs and some interscholastic sports. Just today I heard about how our absolutely wonderful arts and music department will likely take a major hit as well.

So, I have one question to ask our elected board and Superintendent, what can we do as a community to prevent a lot of this from happening? I think many of the Potsdam Central School Districts residents and business owners would be willing to make some calls to our constituents, write some letters, even drive to Albany to ask why Potsdam and many other North Country schools have to take the brunt of these cuts.

I think our Board of Education and Superintendent are doing an exemplary job under considerably difficult times, so what can we do to help? The students at Potsdam need to know that we have done all we can do to maintain our standard of excellence that they have become accustomed to and deserve. So, is there no hope in preventing many of the cuts to educations and sports?

I can say for a fact that I have two children who listen to the local news on the way to school in the morning and ask me what is the worst-case scenario for the programs they participate in. My oldest son performs in numerous music programs and as a freshman has made it clear tome his intent to become a music teacher as a career choice.

Taylor also participates in all three seasons of sports. My youngest son, Connor, also plays an instrument in the A.A.K. Middle School band and he also participates in three modified sports. He wants to be a teacher and coach.

I wish I had an answer for them about their program’s future. I can’t imagine how to tell my son that the modified sports he participates in are done. I couldn’t imagine what my children will do to fill the time where these activities once did. Many kids work hard to maintain the necessary grades to be able to participate in sports and after school activities, will they keep trying as hard without these activities? Sadly, I think not.

Two weeks ago the Board of Education was having a discussion as to which sports program would make the best financial sense to eliminate.

One comment to eliminate modified sports because those participants would still have junior programs to play in is false. The junior football program ends at sixth grade, along with junior basketball and other sports as well. These programs end at sixth grade because modified sports start at seventh grade.

So we would have a large gap where kids who participated in junior sports would have to wait two years unless they were beyond exceptional and could make the junior varsity team.

This brings us back to the question, what can we do? Our kids need to know we have done everything possible. Can we accept doing any less than that for our kids? Anything less is not acceptable to our standards.

Jeffrey Prosper, Potsdam