Letters to the Editor 04/27/2005

To the Editor:

Jeff Haken’s ad in last week’s Nugget inspired me to respond. Jeff apparently thinks that the fundamental purpose of elementary and secondary education is to teach business principles. I’ve been involved in education in one form or another for over fifty years, and I’ve never heard anyone suggest that our schools should have so limited an agenda.

I want my children to learn about the arts and history and science that may have nothing to do with running a business like Jeff does. We need school board members who appreciate the need to train students with a broad vision about what the future may hold, since none of us has a crystal ball. There may be a place for auto mechanics or graphic design classes in the schools, but that shouldn’t be the basis of a school reform. I want higher aspirations from the Sisters schools, not the institution of a trade school curriculum.

We face a crisis in our schools here in Sisters, although the dimensions of that crisis are not yet widely perceived. Class sizes are now over 30 in the elementary school. There is no money to hire additional teachers, and no space to put them if we could afford to hire them. Runaway growth (encouraged by Measure 37) will soon overwhelm an already overcrowded situation.

The citizens of Sisters have shown that they support quality education by passing the local option levy, but state cutbacks in education funding mean that the local option only prevents more cutbacks.

With such grim prospects, Sisters is in dire need of exceptional leadership. Fortunately, Rob Corrigan is an exceptional person. He’s been a tireless volunteer in the classrooms, on the soccer fields, and in the local option campaign. He founded the Sisters Business Forum, serves on several corporate boards, and has managed businesses with $750 million in revenue.

Rob’s clearly got the background to ensure that our kids once again have an opportunity to get a quality public school education. Please vote for Rob Corrigan to restore quality in the Sisters schools and to ensure that your children receive more than a mere business-prep education from your tax dollars.

Michael Blumm

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To the Editor:

This letter is in support of Rob Corrigan’s bid for Sisters school board.

In the time I have known Rob, I have found him to be one of Sisters’ schools most avid supporters. Whether he is volunteering at the elementary school, mentoring kids participating in the Inventorprise contest, or serving on various school related committees, Rob is tireless in his efforts.

Few people are as dedicated to the schools as Rob Corrigan and he deserves our support in his run for the Sisters school board.

Matt Cyrus

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To the Editor:

Would someone in Sisters please tell us why S.O.A.R. is taxing us for their program? We are not in the Sisters School District. We never voted on this to happen to our tax roll. When we tried to find the answer to this, we just got the run around. If we are not mistaken, S.O.A.R. stands for Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation. We are in the Redmond School District, and now they are trying to hit us for more.

Phil & Laura Berning

Bend

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To the Editor:

I guess maybe I’m an old timer in Sisters now, because I’ve been around since before – and during – the founding and development of SOAR, something that many of our newer Sisters residents can’t say. It gives me a perspective that makes my choice to support a local option tax for SOAR very easy. All I have to think about is then and now.

I can remember asking myself (and others) “What do the kids in this community do when school is out?” Particularly since the highest percentage of juvenile crime occurs between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Unfortunately, I heard many stories. Most were about behavior, which for lack of a better description was unsavory. But, it included the knowledge that many youngsters returned home to an empty house, or one with no adult present.

I don’t take part personally in most of the SOAR programs or have family members that do. But, if someone today asks me why I support SOAR, even to the point of raising my taxes, I have a simple answer: “It’s the right thing to do for this community.”

If you need to be convinced, go talk to merchants of Sisters who were in business here before 1995.

Talk to school administrators who had to the responsibility of being ad hoc parents for young people with too much time on their hands. Talk to parents who saw middle school athletic programs cut for lack of funds. Ask young fathers and mothers how it felt to not be home with their youngsters because a job meant food on the table when they did get home. SOAR created options. Viable choices. Today, SOAR is about much more than just young people, and that’s good. But, for me, the future is all about young people. What we do as a community determines that future, and in Sisters, SOAR is a major player in that determination. SOAR needs and deserves your support.

Carole “CB” Davis

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To the Editor:

Like so many parents moving to a new area, one of my concerns a few years ago was the local school system and other activities available for my daughter in Sisters.

Her mother and I, who are divorced, discussed the merits of Sisters schools and their well-deserved reputation for excellence. Using the phone and internet, I began to research other activities available to a girl in middle school. In the process, I “discovered” SOAR and was truly amazed at the available programs.

My daughter was to move immediately after finishing school that spring, leaving an entire summer for things to do, but with no friends in the area.

The SOAR office was remarkably responsive, sending me their catalog as well as directing me to community soccer programs.

Within the first weeks in Sisters, we visited the SOAR office and talked with Tom Coffield and his staff.

My daughter was soon on a challenging mountain bike ride in the McKenzie River area.

And a few weeks later she trekked into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness for several days backpacking.

It was that experience that introduced her to several girls who have become good friends as she finished middle school and entered high school.

To us the value that SOAR adds to the Sisters community lies not only in the variety of quality programs, but in the social opportunity for our young people to connect with others. Through SOAR, my daughter’s early days in Sisters were much less lonely and more rewarding that they might otherwise have been.

We all recognize that the measure of a community is the well-being and development of its youth. For that reason, I support the SOAR levy as a way to strengthen that essential commitment.

Sincerely,

Lee Hicks

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To the Editor;

I was amazed by the attitude of Ms. Stevens in your letters to the editor (Apr. 20).

Having been stung by land zoning laws in another county, I can’t help but wonder if her attitude would change if she were the one damaged by a zoning change. The way I see it she’s sitting on ten acres and thinks the size of Mark Hilgarts’ land should be preserved, thereby making her land more suitable for her needs.

This is absurd. Had it not been for zoning changes prior to ballot measure 37, it too could have been divided into smaller parcels, and I might add, at a much higher value than is currently available.

I do see a couple of solutions though. One being to wait until Mark’s land is freed from its encumbrances and then buy some of it from Mark, enough to meet her needs.

The other was told to me by a friend and probably would suit the needs of most of us Central Oregon Rednecks. That would be to erect traffic gates on the highways coming from the west, north and south. People wanting to come into Our Country would be issued a two-week visa.

If there is a hearing on this parcel as requested by Ms. Stevens, I’m sure Mark will inform me. He is a friend of mine.

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To the Editor:

Mr. McDonald. So you’re building a Big Mac restaurant in our town. Let me tell you about Sisters. We are a town of 1,200 people. We have no traffic lights, no parking meters, no malls, little crime and until now no fast food restaurants.

We want to retain our character: a unique small western town, built in the mountains of cowboy country. A town with healthy active people.

The golden arches will attract more like you. Strip development will follow. We lose our charm, and the country loses part of rural America. And our young people lose their health.

Jerry Mohler

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To the Editor:

I would very much like to thank my teachers and counselors at the Sisters High School, the many people in the Sisters Community, and the Nugget staff for your support and encouragement regarding my application for the United States Naval Academy.

It is my understanding that out of over 14,000 candidates who had applied this year, I was one of fewer than 2,000 finalists in consideration for 1,450 midshipman positions.

Unfortunately I recently received a letter from the Academy stating that I was not selected for the class beginning this fall. Of course this was a great disappointment to me, but I have not given up hope.

This fall I plan to begin my studies in Engineering at the Oregon State University and to enroll in the college Naval ROTC program.

I will reapply to the Naval Academy next year and hope to again obtain nominations from the President as well as Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman Greg Walden.

Over 35 percent of the Academy selections are made from 2nd and 3rd time applicants so my chances for acceptance next year would be greatly improved.

Katherine (Kate) Canja

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To the Editor:

With the conclusion of the 2005 Starry Nights Concert Series, we would like to express our appreciation to the generous people of this community who have helped this event raise more than $75,000 in net proceeds this year.

You have made it possible for Starry Nights to earn over a half million dollars for the Sisters Schools Foundation since the series began back in 1997.

As our state continues to struggle with funding for public education, these dollars matter now more than ever.

Sisters Elementary, Middle and High Schools are a wonderful reflection of a community that cares.

We thank John Hiatt, David Jacobs-Strain, Hanna-McEuen and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the gift of their performances, and we thank the many businesses and individuals here who welcomed them with open arms and made them feel a connection to Sisters.

As this event unfolds each year, we often marvel at what can be accomplished in this small town.

We salute the many students, teachers, school administrators, committee members, businesses and volunteers who support this event, and we are inspired by your creative energy, community spirit and can-do attitude.

Jeri Fouts and Susan Arends

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To the Editor:

My family and I want to say “thanks so much” to our incredible Camp Sherman community and Hospice and others for all the help, love and support they gave during my husband’s final days. It meant so much to us.

Clara Cool and family