To the Editor:

My name is Charles McDermott, owner of McDermott Auto body. This letter is written in support of two new candidates for the Berne-Knox-Westero School board, namely robin Becker and Mackenzie Hempstead.

My major concerns are spending taxpayer monies to finance large staff benefits. In addition, the bids for the capital construction budget were one-million dollars over the project budget.

These significant cost increases in staff benefits and the capital construction projects has to stop. The funds would be better spent on the direct education costs for our students.

The average education cost statewide is $21,000 per student versus $30,000 for BKW students with a declining student population. In order to promote fiscal stability and provide the necessary direct funding for education of BKW students, I am endorsing for the school board Mackenzie Hempstead and Robin Becker.

Charles McDermott

Westerlo