Dear Editor,
We’ve lived in the Farmington area since 2002. We came here from Southern Maine for a job, but more importantly, we came for a particular job, because of the amazing things we had learned about this community. Recently our community has been challenged with a controversial school budget which has been the cause for discussion, debate and sometimes even emotional pleas for support. Most recently, we have seen a few people in our community become nasty and personal with their attacks of the budget. Over the years we all have witnessed a decay in the civility of our national politics. This is disturbing, though it is not in our backyard. While our neighbors have a variety of opinions on issues of the day, we should remember we are neighbors first, and need to refrain from hateful behavior.
Tom Ward has been a neighbor of ours for the past 15 years. We were pleased that he became our School District’s Superintendent because we know him to be a man of character and integrity. We’ve seen signs go up against the school budget that attack Dr. Ward directly. This is shameful! The responsibility for the school budget does not belong to any one person. An exhausting process which included many people has led to the budget we have now. It is despicable that a few people against this budget have resorted to personal attacks. This behavior is a sign of weakness and a feeble attempt to strike out against Dr. Ward, the School District and the Budget, because they know this Budget will pass on October 24. It will pass because it is a fair and reasonable budget with attention to both the needs of the students and the financial resources of our community.
When I was in high school I didn’t know my Superintendent, and couldn’t have pointed him out if my life depended upon it. I believe there are very few students in our district that don’t know Dr. Tom. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of students, staff, and community in this District for four years now. We are proud to have him as our Superintendent, our neighbor and our friend.
David and Betsey Hyde
Temple
I joined the school board two years ago, and did not know Dr. Ward before then. What I’ve found is that he not only has the respect of those who work for or with him, but he has a profound caring for the community and especially the children from challenging backgrounds and poverty. He not only does a good job running the district, but he attends almost every event, tirelessly working what must be 60 to 70 hour weeks during the school year. Because of the budget battle, he’s turned down raises since he came here, even while working to get other people up to competitive rates.
Those attacking him seem to be frustrated by their inability to get the lower budget passed, and are personifying their frustration unfairly on one person. That is indeed a weak and cowardly thing to do, but sometimes frustration brings out the worst in people. The irony is that many of us on the board wanted to spend more on really important needs, and he was the one who steadfastly said we cannot raise property taxes and cannot increase spending too much. He has worked hard for those people who are attacking him.
Our community is better than that kind of infantile personal attack. Tom Ward certainly does not deserve it – though I’ve also seen personal attacks on board members. Those people say more about themselves when they make such attacks then the ones they attack. Again, I’m reminded of a lyric by Neil Peart and the band Rush: (From the 2012 album, A Clockwork Angels, the song is “Wish them Well”:
“All that you can do is wish them well
Spirits turned bitter by the poison of envy
Always angry and dissatisfied
Even the lost ones, the frightened and mean ones
Even the ones with a devil inside
Thank your stars you’re not that way
Turn your back and walk away
Don’t even pause and ask them why
Turn around and say goodbye
All that you can do is wish them well
All that you can do is wish them well
People who judge without a measure of mercy
All the victims who will never learn
Even the lost ones, you can only give up on
Even the ones who make you burn
Thank your stars you’re not that way
Turn your back and walk away”
Thank you for speaking out against these horrible personal attacks against Dr. Ward. This is in additional to the many attacks they have made against school board members this year. No one deserves to be treated like this!
“Defamation of character is a term that is used to describe when false statement is written or spoken about an individual with the intent of harming or slandering their reputation.” – Written by J. Hirby and Fact Checked by The Law Dictionary Staff
I too thank you for speaking out against these attacks against Dr.Ward. Every time I see one of those horrible signs I get more disgusted and cannot believe what is going on in my community. Dr.Tom has done amazing things for this school district. He does not deserve these personal attacks nor do our school board members.
Scott: You were elected last year 2016. How is it you joined the board two years ago? I must not be smart enough to understand the new math!
Thank you Betsey and David for speaking out against this inappropriate attack on Dr. Ward.
I was horrified when I first saw the signs last week. Now, after driving by them and thinking about them for a few days, I am embarrassed to say that I live in this community.
@samo: I missed the “Defamation of character” that you reference. What statement was “harming or slandering their reputation”? It appears to me that the sign is expressing an opinion, not making a slanderous statement. I guess that if my opinion differs from yours, then you consider me a bad person. That is a very silly and foolish way of thinking.
I’m puzzled by the “Ward has to go signs.” Why?
Does that mean that if Tom goes:
Budget requests/needs will go down significantly without negatively affecting programs and services?
Education and staff quality will improve?
All in all, RSU 9 will be a better place?
Just asking those who put up the signs.
SaRGe : Accusing a public official of financial mismanagement not slander? hmmm……definitely a false statement.
Jennifer ,those signs come the same crowd of angry right wingers whose cowardly anonymous rants also pollute these pages.
Dear, SaRGe. The letter is titled “Attacks against Dr. Ward need to stop” we have all seen the accusations made in the comments as well as the few people who make them at public meetings. It’s all public record and it’s pretty darn close to defamation of character. Who benefits from lies or opinions as you call them. It’s clear to me that there are about half a dozen well funded people with signs trying to make non-fact (lies) opinions into defamation campaigns.
As for your projection, “I guess that if my opinion differs from yours, then you consider me a bad person.” Firstly with respect, please do not take the liberty to think and speak for me, I can do that all on my own. It’s my opinion that you are a very confused and angry person and that makes me feel sorry for you. I truly hope you are able to let go of your anger so that you can grow and mature in a healthy way. This community does not need to be directed by anger.
” horrified ” ??????
Inappropriate, yes…
I too agree the signs pointing out Dr. Ward are shameful. I attended high school while Dr Ward was a teacher there and never once did I see him look down on anyone as these signs do to him. If someone has issue with his job performance they should bring that to his bosses, not cowardly post it on a sign. Every person deserves a chance to face his or her accusers. Whether you agree with him or not, I do believe he wants what is best for our students. Isn’t that what we all should want? Sometimes the cheaper mechanic isn’t always the best deal.
The frustration appears to be, many no voters are afraid of being taxed out of their homes and no one is addressing that issue. Real or not, that is a lot of stress for someone that believes it. What we need to be talking about how do we fund education. Ironically many of the no voters need the education the most and are their best way out of poverty. Is it time to remove the school budget from property owners and create a state school tax? We have millions of gallons of water being pumped out of our state for the purpose of resale, perhaps that is a source of revenue. How about these windmills, perhaps there should be a tax for power sold of state. We the citizens own this state and I believe it is time that our citizens benefit from our natural resources.
If we don’t try to do something after this budget process is complete we will be right back here next year. Neighbors fighting with neighbors over school budgets year after year are not good for our communities. That is the reality to our situation. This fight isn’t about not wanting our students to get a good education, but how do we afford it. Perhaps a few school board members, citizens and teachers could form a committee to look at our options. Many of the no voters need your help with this. While it may be their fault they are where they are, that alone is not a reason to try and fix the problem. This problem is not going to go away, we must deal with it.
While we enjoy freedom of speech we have a duty to be respectful, sorry Dr. Ward.
I have known Tom Ward more than 40 years, many of those years as coaches at MBHS, later as coach and athletic director, later on as coach and principal. He was always kind, supportive and dedicated to doing what was best for our athletes and students.
As District Superintendent Supt. Ward continues to strive for the very best education for every student in every school.
Thank you, Tom for your good work.
I’ve lived in Wilton all my life and i know no voters ,a lot of them . Their small business owners , farmers ,construction workers, Mill and factory workers many of with have to travel long distances every day to make enough money to make ends meet .
When we see the percentage of or tax bill that goes to big salaries and opulent schools all in name of education witch is avrage at best it just seems over the top for this area .
So in closing to Guy no voters are not poverty stricken . Most poverty-stricken don’t pay taxes so why would they vote” ironically” Guy they’re probably the biggest drag on the system .
I don’t think the “no ward ” signs bothers Ward as much as does some of you . With his position you have to have thick skin if not thick wallet should help .
RBO – I think one reason the “yes” vote won overwhelmingly was that people looked at the facts and saw:
a) Our district spends less per pupil than the state average, and others in the region – in fact, it’s down near the bottom in the state;
b) programs have been cut recently, though very little has been added. Most budget increases were legally required;
c) the district and our legislators have effectively argued that the state cannot burden property tax payers, and many of these expenses are reimbursed. That means that in the last two years the board as asked $546,000 less of property tax payers;
d) Salaries in the district are below the state and regional average. Dr. Ward has not accepted any raise since he got here (and I wouldn’t do that job for what he gets paid – we’re lucky to have him, though I think you’re right that he has to have a thick skin in that kind of job).
e) Administrative salaries are a very small portion of the budget – cut them, and we’d lose good people (running a complex school in this day and age requires training and multiple skills) and the tax bill would not really change at all – there are very few of these salaries.
f) the new “opulent” schools are not paid for by property tax payers, but by the state – and if the state hadn’t built them here, they’d have spent the money building new schools elsewhere. So we are very lucky to have them. They SAVE us money because the old schools were beginning to have massive equipment failures that would have been very costly to maintain.
Still, I recognize and respect that taxes are high. We have to keep the concerns of property tax payers in mind as we move forward. I think a lot of people were surprised to find that the claims of flagrant spending were, quite simply, false. But it’s hard to get the message out in a world of slogans and sound bites.
Guy Iverson wrote an ignorant and arrogant line here;
“Ironically many of the no voters need the education the most and are their best way out of poverty”.
Does the absolute arrogance ever stop?
Does the ignorance ever stop?
Gee, I wonder why we’re having problems getting along??
Any idea Guy?
Scott, it is a ” shell game “. I received a tax statement stating that my property taxes have been reduced by 32%.
Funny thing is, yes, the mil rate was reduced but my assessed value increased 25%. It appeared that I was not singled out and this was the trend this year, for this town.
So while the school district may have reduced their budget my wallet says taxes went up.
Yes, I know, it’s not the districts fault. But it is one of the few times we actually get to vote on monies.
So again, the school district better come up with a better way soon to finance the schools. It is not sustainable here in this district. Best be planning now for next year.
Maybe you could hire Guy for PR.