As a mother of a current kindergartner in the Kearsarge Regional School District, New London town resident, and Kearsarge student-athlete alumni, I am deeply disheartened to hear of the proposed warrant article that would drastically cut the district budget. The implications of these cuts would be devastating for our children and community. My child, and all children, deserve a high quality and well rounded public education. Our children deserve exposure to the arts, physical education, health education, and access to library programs. They deserve the opportunity to experience the growth garnered by athletics, extra-curriculars, and STEM programs. Our children deserve skilled, invested teachers who are properly compensated and feel supported by their community. They deserve to learn and play in facilities that are safe and well maintained.

In classrooms with appropriate teacher to student ratios conducive to learning. Our children deserve access to services for their varying needs within their own district, including reading and math specialists, guidance counselors, and social work. Children with special education needs deserve reliable, on-site access to speech, behavioral, physical, and occupational therapy, to name a few. All of this is threatened by the proposed warrant article, put forth by a local group of residents. If you live in one of the seven Kearsarge towns, I strongly encourage you to show up on Jan. 4th at 9 a.m. to Kearsarge Regional High School. Bring your ID. Please vote for our children.

Katie MacKenna

New London