To the Editor:
As a student in the Guilderland Central School District, a district subject to the “constant school and property tax increases,” I would like to briefly comment on the budget and respectfully respond to Mr. John Brower’s letter to the editor [“More money does little to nothing to improve education,” The Altamont Enterprise, April 20, 2023] — and ultimately put this issue to rest.

I attend Guilderland schools. If Guilderland were in Summerville, South Carolina, our venerated music program — where friends have flourished and received state and national accolades — would be cut. Our school sports — which pushed a friend away from suicide — would be cut. Our teachers — who inspire me and so many others with their indefatigable commitment — would be out of business.

When “President George W. Bush [...] gave billions upon billions of dollars to public education,” and SAT scores “continued going down,” I would note that, if Guilderland were in the Palmetto State, our SAT scores would be even lower. South Carolina’s education department says their public school average SAT score was 1023. Our district’s average was 147 points higher. That’s why you fund public education.

I’m applying to college very soon. Contrary to the letter writer’s supposition, colleges made the SAT optional because those tests favor high-income families who can access prestigious tutoring and don’t share the burden of additional responsibilities at home. They didn’t go test-optional because public schools or test scores somehow worsened.

If Mr. Brower lived here in Guilderland, I think he’d find that our taxpayers don’t feel “guilty” about supporting students. Many of them moved here because of how strong Guilderland schools are. They see public education as a profoundly American vehicle that moves democracy forward — a catalyst that makes success attainable despite your race, your poverty, your disability, your parents’ education.

Defunded public schools make that resource a fever dream. That is antithetical to the American dream.

We have work to do as a district, and we can reasonably fund public schools without unreasonably breaking the banks of working people. I agree with Mr. Brower on that. But states that don’t value public schools — especially South Carolina — don’t see it that way, and it leaves students behind. Unthinkably behind.

The district’s budget vote is up on May 16th. Please vote — but please don’t turn Guilderland into Summerville, South Carolina.

Conor Webb

Guilderland