We Are The Majority - Thank You!

There is a great deal of anger in the Three Village School District. The Waking Bear© has heard from the parents of district students, the students themselves and the moderate arm of a taxpayers' movement - that contains some of those same parents, SUNY professors, retired as well as still working teachers and others - asking for fiscal responsibility in matters of school district bureaucracy.

Both the June and September 1995 ballots brought out more voters than expected. Some 6400 people appeared in June, an 87% increase over 1994's turnout. However, though soundly defeating the proposed June budget and installing two conservative candidates, the Board of Education and District Administrator, Mary F. Barter, suggested the turnout meant little. After September's '95's still higher than normal voting, these same folks spoke of the need for making concessions, community involvement and a strong stand against higher wages. [Talk will always be cheap.]

The June '95 turnout represented only one-fifth of all voters in the district. About forty percent of those supporting the budget are believed to have been resident district employees, their families and parents of local students. The fact that their September push produced 2825 "YES"es, an increase of only 85 votes over June's 2740, tells us something very important: despite a well oiled political machine that includes teacher union and administration efforts, the likely peak of the faction's performance is little more than 2800 votes...EVER. Frustrated, the teachers' most recent adventure is trying to inspire the captured attention of high school seniors. Under the guise of providing a good civics lesson and an expressed interest in freedom of the press, the teachers use the school newsletters and their own children to spread Union rhetoric and capture the "over 18" student vote. Though very interesting, it's hardly a new concept. Sixty years ago, a similar and sadly successful effort by a government was used to control a nation's youth to do their bidding. But, in the end, these Three Village voters -- district employees, students and the families of both -- believing themselves to be the school district's only salvation, remain but a minority.

On the other hand, more than 22,000 village residents have no connection with the School District, except to pay taxes. Yet unmoved, they "sleep." But, should even ten percent of this untapped majority "wake up" and do something about school district policies, nothing could stop the onslaught. Their collective voice could change State legislative policies, downing: tenure, the Tri-Boro Amendment and more. The Board of Education, the District's Administration, the Unions, the Joint forces of the PTA and PTO would be powerless.

Locally, the majority's best start would be to vote every single budget down, until their opinion is truly sought and implemented.

The Waking Bear© speaks to and for the interests of that majority. Awakened and vocal, they are a voting block to be reckoned with. They will not be cajoled, manipulated, lied to, intimidated or co-opted.