Rye Friends: Please sign the letter in support of the RHS Bond.

Dear Rye voters:

On March 13, 2012, we will vote YES for the recently revised Rye High School bond.

This is why:

Enrollment for the middle and high school campus has exceeded the capacity of our facilities. If we do nothing now, class size will be 32-40 students per class in three years in core subjects - a size inconsistent with a top-notch school district. This is neither a bubble nor an estimate. These students are enrolled NOW in the Rye schools – Additionally over 1100 Rye residents are under the age of five?

Sadly, too many of our high school students are standing around watching science demonstrations rather than participating in labs because we do not have sufficient facilities that meet standards for core science experiments. Neighboring towns like Rye Brook, Port Chester and Harrison do not have this problem…it is an embarrassment for Rye to have second-rate science resources. It’s bad for our kids…not to mention our property values, which could sink if we do not maintain our reputation for excellence in our schools.

We respect the concerns of our neighbors who do not want to see any wasteful spending or unnecessary tax increases. Neither do we, which is why we are supporting this fiscally smart and conservative proposal. With proposed plans, the Board will use rainy day funds, keep our AAA rating, maximize state aid opportunities and take advantage of all time low interest rates to address our most pressing facilities issues.

The School Board has reduced the bond by over 18% from the December Bond, and by nearly 40% from the original proposal considered in October 2011. Further, the Board will use $2.5 million in reserve funds toward the school budget to minimize our overall tax burden.

Of the 44 school districts in Westchester County, our cost per pupil is among the LOWEST. Only Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, Port Chester, and Yonkers pay less than we do. We are willing to pay the additional 69¢/day (for the average homeowner) --- yes, that’s all that is being asked of us ---- to keep our schools competitive.

It is time to remember Rye’s reputation and give voice to the thousands of young people who reside in Rye City who can’t vote. We have cut to the bone and simply can’t cut any more without compromising our school children and our town’s reputation.