Article 8 Will Hurt Claremont
Submitted By Renee Mayer
Strong public schools are not an optional luxury — they are the foundation of a healthy community and stable local economy. Article 8 threatens that foundation. As a Claremont homeowner, small business owner and public school parent, I urge our community to consider what is truly at stake.
As a homeowner, I expect our elected officials to protect my investment. Article 8 will defund our public school system, draining the desirability of our city for current and future residents. Under Article 8’s plan, we would see drastically reduced school budgets that deplete school resources. It would set a rigid per-pupil cap that ignores rising fixed costs, forcing cuts even when voters support schools. Schools are the heartbeat of a community: when they thrive, the entire community benefits. When they suffer, so does the city.
As a small business owner who practices a trade, I see the value in investing in non-academic educations. Article 8 will defund our Tech Center, jeopardizing the future of our local trade economy. Not every student is destined for college. Removing access to trade education would eliminate a proven path to success for many students. When these students gain marketable, employable skills, they are more likely to stay in Claremont. The backbone of this city is comprised of hardworking, blue-collar professionals who keep our homes, businesses, and infrastructure running. They are an essential community asset.
As a Claremont parent, I proudly enroll my bright and curious third grader in public school. Article 8 will strip the school budget to the point where children like mine would lose the resources they need to thrive. Teacher retention would decline, class sizes would grow, and music, athletics and other programs will be eliminated. Worse still, safe and engaging learning environments would erode. A healthy, well-rounded learning environment ensures the success of not just my child, but all children.
Article 8 supporters claim that this budget cap makes economic sense. In reality, it reduces opportunity, weakens our workforce, and undermines our community. For the sake of our children, economy, and future, Vote NO on Article 8 on March 10 th .
Don’t Be Fooled. Vote No Article 8
Submitted By Keith Raymond
If voters in Claremont are confused by Article 8 on their ballot, they’re not alone. The article was purposely written to be unclear, to mislead people into not understanding what’s truly at stake.
The authors of the article don’t want voters to know that, if it passes, it would be devastating to Claremont schools. The article isn’t a 3% annual budget cap but a 25% school cut of $9 million dollars. It would mean no sports, no tech center programming and no extracurriculars going forward. Forever. It will cut the budget to the bone resulting in less student learning, lower test scores, and more miserable students. Our children, our teachers, and our community deserve better.
Vote NO on Article 8 on March 10th . Don’t’ be fooled by the wording. Inform yourselves.
For more information, go to the website www.sensibleschoolsclaremont.org
SCHOOLS ARE IMPORTANT. VOTE NO ARTICLE 8
Submitted By Katherine Welsh
Our public schools play a vital role in shaping young members of our community; beyond basic academics, students use school programs and resources to explore interests, discover talents, and grow as people.
The authors of the Budget Cap Article 8 on the Claremont ballot want to take these opportunities away from children in our community. If this article passes, our schools will be forced to focus solely on academics required by the state - with fewer teachers and resources to do so. They will also be forced to cut important enrichment programs and opportunities like sports, music, theater, art, and technology, leaving our students at a disadvantage when they are ready to enter the workforce or apply to college.
Claremont students deserve better, and all of us in Claremont deserve a community that includes young people who have had the best education we can give them. Let's do better by our children and ourselves. I urge you to vote NO on the Budget Cap Article 8 on March 10th.
VOTE NO ARTICLE 8 on March 10
Submitted By Lisa and Jim Gosselin
We are writing to the Citizens of Claremont who will be going to the voting booth on Tuesday, March 10th.
It is important for you all to recognize that the budget cap written into warrant Article 8 on the ballot in Claremont was written by Free Staters who want to decimate our public schools by removing $9 million from the school budget. We’ve seen what they did to the towns of Grafton and Croydon. The citizens of Croydon were forced to spend significant time and money on a referendum to undo the damage a similar article did to their schools. Why would Claremont want to replicate that?
Public Education is one of the cornerstones of a vibrant, healthy community and we must fight to keep it. Please show your support for our children, our schools and our community by voting NO on Warrant Article 8 in the March 10 election. If you want an easy to understand, common-sense explanation of the issue, visit www.sensibleschoolsclaremont.org.