Opinion: On funding Dartmouth Public Schools

To the Editor: 

At the November 3rd Select Board meeting, Mr. Tatelbaum raised an important point that deserves the attention of every Dartmouth resident. Our town’s level of school funding is unacceptable, 270th of 320 districts in the state. This “miserable statistic” falls hardest on our town’s children, who bear the burden of doing more with less. 

 As a resident of Dartmouth, I am concerned about how our town chooses to fund its schools. While the discussion that evening included the idea of a Budget Advisory Group to review spending, the truth is quite simple: Dartmouth must improve its commitment to education. Our educators, staff, and children deserve a similar level of investment and support that other communities provide. It is important to remember that education is not a luxury. Education is the foundation of a strong community. If we continue to shortchange our children, we will weaken the fabric of our community. 

I urge the Select Board, Finance Committee, Town Administrator, and residents to make school funding a top priority this budget cycle. 

Christine Pankowski

Dartmouth Resident and Parent