How about as a first step the Chamber pledge... —Jim Parker

Received today on Why the Chamber Supports Unification. -jsq

So true, John. There was no meat in the whole letter. The last line sums it up, "We BELIEVE..." yada, yada, yada. Faith based thinking might fly in religious institutions, but in the education of our children, we have a pretty good handle on what is needed. Deferring to those trained and with years of experience in the education of our children, who have brought countless facts to the discussion, none of which the Chamber can or has bothered to refute, I will go along with both Boards of Education and vote NO to consolidation.

I did note that Mr Gooding offered to "combine our resources and our efforts and work together as a community to transform two average school systems..." Since he used the first person plural "our,"

I can only conclude he was including himself, the Chamber and its members, along with the Boards of Education and citizens of the county. How wonderful! This is what is needed. Mr Gooding is offering the expertise, time, and financial resources of its Chamber to help educate all the children of our community. How great is that?

How about as a first step the Chamber pledge an equivalent amount of money it and its members have spent on CUEE to the Boards of Education yearly, to be used as the teachers see fit?

-Jim Parker