Cut schools without maiming arts, music

This is in response to the letter about a property tax cap potentially hindering the arts in Long Island schools ["Cap could diminish Obama's call to excel," Feb. 6]. I agree that it's a sad state of affairs when music and the arts always seem to be the first things that are chopped when money gets tight. However, the premise that it is the tax cap's fault is completely wrong.

If we are to accept that argument, then heck, don't cut any programs at all, whether they be in the school systems or in our communities. No funds? No problem. Just raise the taxes again and again until we can afford to pay for any program proposed.

This nonsense has got to stop.

Eugene Artemyeff

Glenwood Landing
 

I am all for the caps on school spending ["The budget: $3.7B in cuts," News, Feb. 2]. As a Realtor on Long Island, I have long heard the argument that we must vote for the school budget or our property values will go down.

Look around, people, your property values are down, and most districts year after year continue to have their budgets passed. How many of our children can afford to stay on Long Island, unless they live in their parents' homes? We give our kids a five-star education, and they have to move away to more affordable states to be productive? We need our students to stay here and contribute to making New York a better place.

We have many small districts here. I live in Center Moriches, and my neighbor across the street is in the East Moriches school district. Why do we need these to be two separate districts? Why are we paying the salaries of two superintendents, when East Moriches doesn't even have a high school? This is just one small example, but one I feel that is easily addressed.

There are so many good alternatives. I have read many of them in the letters column of Newsday.

Many remember the 3 R's. How about the three C's? Cut, consolidate and concessions.

Richard C. Toshack

Center Moriches