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I am a retired school teacher of 35 years. I now volunteer and sometimes substitute in the Experiential Learning Program at Farmin Stidwell Elementary.

I am passionate about educating the whole child. In the ELP classroom, academics is of primary while focusing on self-advocacy, owning one’s learning, leadership and collaboration on all levels. The ELP encompasses grades 1-6. The younger children learn by continuously observing the older children’s good behavior. The older children are often observed helping a “little” on the computer or sounding out a word. The older children learn by continual repetition of their knowledge and demonstrating social behavior in the classroom and the community. The ELP also teaches to each child’s learning level, having very small learning groups, allowing for individual attention. This allows each child to learn at a comfortable pace, advancing when ready. Testing has shown that about 95 percent of the children excelled on all levels. These are the children who are the future of our community. I am privileged to observe such growth in our schools.

The upcoming levy election, to be voted on March 14 is crucial to the continued excellence in the education of our students and the continued growth of our community. Without passage of the levy we lose the gift of young families with school-age children moving into our community. I think that it is important to realize that while the schools are receiving the money the levy benefits our whole community.

On a home assessed at $250,000 the increased property tax from 2017-2019 would be a total of $35 per $100,000 of assessed value. Clearly our children and our community are worth this small tax increase.

DORIS COHEN

Hope