BY PETER D. PALMER
newsroom@newsandtribune.com
NEW ALBANY —
Nearly five years ago, I moved my family from a wonderful neighborhood in Louisville to our present home in Floyds Knobs. We’ve never regretted the decision, as we’ve come to enjoy living in Southern Indiana, just as much as we enjoyed our years in Louisville.
As young professionals with a growing family, we were drawn to Floyd County for a number of reasons — the most important of which was the quality of the Floyd County schools. In Louisville, we agonized over the decision where to send our children for their primary school education and were never comfortable with the decisions which followed. However, after hearing so many wonderful things about the Floyd County schools (and life in Floyd County) we investigated further and were truly amazed at what we found.
The final decision to move here was an easy one, and we’ve been ecstatic with the education our children have received ever since. I have two daughters presently in elementary school here, along with a son who will be starting next year as well.
I am disappointed beyond words — as many parents are — regarding the school board’s seemingly hasty decision-making. I understand that in these difficult economic times, there are many hard decisions to be made. My father served on the school board in my hometown many years ago, and I know it’s often a difficult job. However, my disappointment over the decision-making was compounded by the statement by Dr. Hibbard that he declined to consider a request to increase taxes to pay for the financial shortcomings.
I do not know of any Floyd County parent — past, present or future — who would object to what amounts to a relatively small increase to continue one of our counties’ greatest assets — its school system. As the price of a quality private school education in Louisville easily exceeds $10,000 or more — raising property taxes an additional few hundred dollars per year is an incredibly small burden to ask in order to protect our children’s future — and certainly among the least painful options to consider when looking at the turmoil caused by the new plans.
I urge and plead with Dr. Hibbard, the school board and our elected officials to consider this opinion and to keep the New Albany Floyd County School System among the most desirable in the state.
