BE OUR GUEST: JACKSON SCHOOLS WORK FOR BETTER EDUCATIONAL FUTURE

Diana Beeson is a resident of Jackson.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Mr. Wayne Maupin, the Superintendent of Jackson R-II School District, for his efforts and the manner in which he chose to exert his efforts in promoting the recent local tax levy for the Jackson school system.

There were no false threats of specific program cuts. He didn't pit the athletic programs against the arts, nor the gifted against the handicapped. He merely asked the citizens of the Jackson School District to support a measure that would continue to maintain the excellent school system from whose reputation we all now benefit, either directly or indirectly.

Each of us has our own opinions as to what is important based on our own experiences. There is no winning way to argue specific points of priorities nor is there any amount of money to reward the good and dedicated teacher. (I doubt that they chose the profession for its financial rewards.) Now is not the time to let individual biases or interests divide our efforts in maintaining the core of our community's educational foundation.

There may be many of us who would be glad to help Mr. Maupin, the School Board, the teachers, and ultimately ourselves in promoting the next tax levy. We would probably need a sense of direction, an organized plan, a "campaign strategy" for doing our small part. We can: Help the room-mothers plan a "get together" with each mother bringing five stamped envelopes for writing a short note to their friends or neighbors with a reminder to vote; ask our civic organizations to hand out fliers on election day; call a faculty assembly the day before the election and ask everyone and their spouses to vote; send a personally signed note home with each child from his homeroom teacher reminding parents and grandparents to vote; and, let high school students use some of their energy to make posters for front lawns.

Jackson and the surrounding area is a family-oriented group of communities that works well together. We are lucky to have the human and economical resources available to us that have allowed us to grow, form friendships and develop a sense of community belonging. Our school system is a very major part of the area's overall success and I believe there are a great many of us who would be willing to do our part in seeing Jackson maintain this sense of pride. Let us call upon the individual resources and energies of Pocahontas, Millersville, Burfordville, Gordonville, Fruitland, Jackson and all those community areas that comprise Jackson R-II School District and, working together, we can hand down the legacy of a better future for all of our children and grandchildren.

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