Daily Hampshire Gazette – Guest Columnist Mateo Pangalo: Why schools should be fully funded

The Amherst-Pelham Area School Committee has taken leadership in proposing a budget that looks at reality and asks towns in the district to fully cover the costs of providing our children with the education they need and deserve. , demonstrated forward-thinking and sound judgment.

Asking residents to pay more in taxes is painful, but the fundamental erosion of public education caused by defunding schools is even more painful, and even more devastating in the long run. Probably. It’s fine to ask Amherst College to provide more funding to the district (although this plan also includes a misunderstanding of what a college endowment really is: an investment portfolio rather than liquid cash). seems to be involved).

But if the experience of relying on the ESSER Fund over the past few years has taught us anything, it’s definitely that relying on a pot of funding that is controlled and constrained by external funding sources is a big no-no. That means disaster. Because the pot will eventually run dry. .

You can also lobby state officials to provide more funding to schools. In fact, it’s more than okay, it’s essential, given that state aid to education is chronically below obligation. But if the experience of waiting for Beacon Hill to act to meet the needs of Bay Staters west of I-495 is any evidence, there’s no need to hold your breath for help from Boston. We should know by now.

If we want quality schools, a quality education for our children, and a quality future for our communities, we must be prepared to invest in them. And rather than always relying on temporary or temporary solutions or help from outside sources, recognize that everything, including education, costs more this year than it did last year, or five years ago, or twenty years ago. By. And it’s going to cost more next year, five years, 20 years.

We must be prepared to cover those costs not only for our children (though of course some may think that is enough), but also for ourselves. Many families (including ours) choose to live here, especially because of the high quality of education in this area.

If a school’s reputation is tarnished by a permanently underfunded school, what will happen in a year, five years, 20 years? Fewer families will move here and more will move away. Of course, this is a perfect recipe for further tax increases. However, in this scenario a world-class school would never prove it.

Mateo Pangaro lives in Shutesbury.