Letters

I am writing this letter in response to the October 5 article “Community Members Weigh In at Sag Harbor School Board Meeting With Thoughts, Questions About Plans for Marsden Property” [27east.com]. My husband attended the Sag Harbor Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 3, where the “athletic facilities” plan was discussed — yet not revealed — for the Marsden lots nearby the school.

I am confused why a school with a diminishing population would need to acquire more land. There is a 45-acre park a half mile down the street from the school, in addition to the Pierson field, and another at the elementary school with a playground.

It is disturbing to me that the school is asking the public to vote as they keep us in the dark and will reveal the plans after the November 3 vote. As I ask other parents for their thoughts, they honestly cannot give an opinion, as we all know nothing.

In addition, the school has stated on several occasions incorrect facts and dates concerning the Community Preservation Fund purchase that they are counting on to complete the acquisition of this land. This confusion needs to be cleared up and the school needs to have transparency with its plans and time line.

In addition to these concerns, it is upsetting to see how the school continues to focus on sports. We are a thriving arts community, and our seventh-graders did not have an art class? We are a coastal community, yet we do not have a marine biology lab?

I urge you to look at the Billion Oyster Project and The Harbor School for examples of how other public schools are really leading the pack in these areas. Our own neighboring high school in Southampton has a full wet lab where students can learn about marine biology and aquaculture as relevant to our own environment.

What about hiring crossing guards to make the streets safer for the kids, and which could encourage more walking and fewer cars and reduce traffic?

Our district is not lacking funding, yet parents are looking elsewhere for their children to continue middle school and high school. This is upsetting, to see others explore Ross and send their children outside of our community, or relocate to try to have access to resources that we could be providing.

We have all of the tools and funding to create a world-class science and arts facility, yet we continue to look to further our extracurricular athletics programs, which do not benefit our entire school population.

Mare Dianora

Sag Harbor