THE PUBLIC MIND: READER STATES A CASE FOR SUPPORTING THE DELTA BALLOT MEASURE

To the Editor:

As a resident of the Delta R-V district I would like to respond to the recent article in the Southeast Missourian about the upcoming bond election in the district.

The first issue deals with the possible regulation being considered by the state legislature on minimum school size. House Bill 794 allows exemptions based upon exceeding 650 students enrolled, 90 percent of the district being in one county, or 100 square miles in district size. The Delta R-V district exceeds at least one of these exemption requirements. A phone call to Dr. Terry Stewart of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided information in regard to this and the opinion that there did not seem to be a strong chance of the passage of this bill. The continuation of a school in the district is dependent upon the successful passage of the bond issue to maintain our schools and sufficient money to continue to meet our needs.

The second issue is the quality of education given in the school. Our students are able to compete on equal grounds with graduates of other area schools. We don't have frills but students that want an education get out of school what they are willing to put into school.

I feel the meeting held at the school on Monday evening was one of overwhelming positive support for passage of a bond issue to keep our schools and students in the Delta area. A very positive article written by a reporter present at the meeting from the North Scott Countian would seem to support this opinion.

A couple of other items are the high school is 72 years old and a bond issue can only be used for facility needs, not teachers and instructional materials.

Last, but not least, the senior citizens group that meets regularly in Delta, in a unanimous vote of members present, voted to support the bond issue and the need to keep the students and school in our community.

Mary Maud Hosea

Delta