The following was submitted by St. Mary’s County Public School Teacher Karen Myers.
Why would Commissioner Hewitt advocate for Closing “Old Facilities” and Small Schools? If you haven’t read his latest post on social media, it is worth a look. He is advocating for shutting down small schools and increasing the class size of other schools. Some of these classes are already overcrowded with students. It astonishes me that Commissioner Hewitt can throw aside all the hard work, commitment, dedication, and support these “70 year old” schools supply to the county. It is almost as if he feels that after 70 something is not useful anymore.
In an ALL-CAPS tirade posted to his social media, Commissioner Hewitt railed against the vote of the very Board that he serves relative to the recently proposed tax increase by suggesting closing schools and redistricting students to different schools rather than supporting children and educators. It’s interesting that he thinks people would rather lose their jobs, than pay a little more in taxes. In fact, at a recent meeting, Commissioner Colvin cited that someone making $100,000 would pay an extra $200. I’m not sure what Hewitt thinks most people in the school system make, or even a lot of retirees for that matter, but I’m almost positive many are far below that threshold.
In any of the SMCPS schools, you not only have teachers but also many support personnel who ensure the school’s essential daily functions. From secretaries who answer parent questions, food service workers who keep our students fed and learning, HVAC specialists who ensure a healthy learning environment, to building service staff who provide a vital function in maintaining clean classrooms (and are especially important in flu season!). Commissioner Hewitt specifically cites the teachers’ salaries driving these increases, but the hundreds of citizens working behind the scenes to keep our schools running are just as important and deserve our respect. What happens to these people when you close schools? Maybe they can’t afford to drive to another school or don’t have time to commute an extra twenty minutes because they have a second or third job to support themselves. And how does Commissioner Hewitt think we will attract people, much less the best and brightest, to fill the empty positions because we do not compete with the neighboring counties? Closing “old facilities” is not a solution, much less closing small schools. Eighty percent of the facilities are “old” and small schools provide some of the most comfortable and productive learning environments for our families.
While the school system accounts for a large portion of the budget, it is not the only large ask made of the commissioners this year. Local government, the Sheriff’s office, and other departments have not been dragged on social media and made out to be the villains despite getting decent increases of their own. Why? Because they are seeking to complete the mission of public service, just like the Board of Education. No, this year, like every year, Hewitt has decided to try to pit the public against the school system, and this year, like every year, you’ll see teachers, support staff, and citizens come out and have to defend our school system. It’s a pitiful display and he should be ashamed of himself.
Maybe instead of wearing #RedForEd, we should wear orange to show Commissioner Hewitt that we don’t put up with bullies. In all seriousness, if you want to show your teachers and school staff that you support them, be sure to attend the budget hearing on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Great Mills High School.
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Great letter. Hewitt could barely run a gas station yet St. Mary’s voted him in. He’ll be gone soon!