Dear editor:

The impending oil slick in the Gulf and the potential devastation to the habitat has caused much ire within me. Furthermore, B.P. remarking that it didn’t have a backup system fed more fuel to the fire.

This has affected me deeply because I have followed the plight of the Brandywine School System and its impending oil slick. I am sure that those with many years of Michigan education experience can tell you that cutting 17 teachers from this system is devastating.

The teachers are the core of the institution and with the children is its foundation.

Brandywine has not given its system a backup plan. It (the board and Mr. Jarpe) has given this wonderful system a Band-Aid and it will not in any way be healed for future operation.
Have the powers that be checked to see how Brandywine was run 40 years ago? When the enrollment had tripled and there was Winkler, Rosewaren, Bertrand, Old Bertrand, LaSalle, junior high and the high school. At that time our superintendent ran the tranportation and with the business manager took care of the monies and each of the schools. We also had certified librarians in the high school and elementary buildings. At a time when finances were in doubt we went down to a principal overseeing two schools, not one. We had a time when busing stopped for a year. Did it make us happy? No, but it got us through a bad time. I have not seen documentation regarding the sports program. What about “pay to play?” Don’t even question those unable to pay because the boosters could offer scholarships, and/or could individuals. As a former teacher, and if asked, I would be glad to help. There are some titled administrators who could be eliminated. That also includes assistants, secretarial and otherwise who should be reconsidered for hourly time change or elimination. I do not see a wage freeze or freezes on these top-dollar people and feel that they need to take a look at what the system pays them.

Is it worthwhile to drain the resources and choke the life out of the system? Take a look, people – our children need those 17 teachers.

Linda Hambouz Schlundt
Retired, 36 years in Michigan education
South Bend