By Ed Higgins

In the run-up to tomorrow's referendum vote on the petitioned ordinance that could result in the reconstitution of the Board of Education, a good deal of the public commentary has taken a tone of personal and pejorative attacks upon those citizens who felt compelled to sign the petition and bring the proposal before residents for a vote. Supporters have been labeled as being 'anti-education', selfish and or being driven by a single issue of self interest.

A close look at the names of many of the 38 original signatories of the petition suggests that these characterizations are less than accurate and questionable, at best: one signer is a mother, grandmother and past Chair of the BOE who continues to feel so strongly about issues relating to the education of our students that she finds herself regularly attending BOE meetings that extend late into the night; two other signatories are local businessmen with children and nieces who are matriculating through the local school systems, and who have been longtime and steadfast supporters of our schools, contributing both time and financial resources to help meet extra educational needs; two supporters, Steve Rosendahl and Brian Musumeci, are BOE members who were elected in the most recent election that many hoped and expected would serve to send a message to our BOE that it was time for a change of both tone and direction; another signer is a retired successful business executive who is certainly aware of the critical needs for providing a sound education for our young people to help ensure a productive life, and who is concerned enough with the recent history of the BOE to have stepped forward to participate; and another is a retired Superintendent of a local school system with an exemplary record of serving the educational needs of area students.

Perhaps a fairer characterization would be that the petitioners feel so strongly about the recent past and current course that our BOE has followed- that a public vote on the issue of a board reconstitution is both warranted and worth the effort.

Perhaps if only a handful of voters above the 38 Original Signers take the time to turn out and vote, tomorrow, and the initiative is defeated out of hand, then the skepticism expressed by some of the more strident and vocal opponents may prove to have been justified.

On the other hand, should the measure exceed the odds and pass; or be determined by a closer vote with a strong voter participation- then the efforts of the 38 citizens who felt compelled to bring the initiative before the voters will prove to have been justified and worth that effort- with a strong message conveyed to those who serve on our BOE.