April 19, 2013
Dear fellow Appoquinimink School District parent and/or taxpayer:
I would like to alert you to an important Referendum for neighborhoods in the
Appoquinimink School District that will be held on May 9, 2013.
As you may be aware, the district held a referendum initiative in February
that did not pass. The scope of that effort has been scaled back with a new
proposal that will raise $2.79 million for critical academic needs. I strongly
urge you to learn more about this by attending one of many public information
meetings being held in the area over the next two weeks, or by reviewing the
information on the district’s web site: http://apposchooldistrict.com
The Appoquinimink School District has lost over 4 million dollars in annual
funding from the State, and now is faced with considerable cuts to the educational
system in all grade levels without additional support from the community. The referendum
would mean a property tax increase of 15 cents per $100 assessed property value.
If this new referendum is not approved by voters in the community, the impacts
will be significant, including:
• Class sizes will grow 25-30% in Grades 1-3 (11 teacher positions will be eliminated)
• All extracurricular activities that supplement the learning environment in
elementary and middle schools will be eliminated
• Safety and Discipline support staffs will be eliminated in many schools,
and reduced in others
• All Freshman and Junior Varsity Sports Teams in our High Schools will be eliminated
(Football, Soccer, Cheerleading, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Wrestling,
Baseball, Softball & Lacrosse)
• School and Classroom budgets will be reduced 10%
• District wide, 28 teaching positions, 8 additional Full time and 9 Part time staff
will be eliminated
. . . plus many other severe cuts (to list them all, this letter would be pages long!
Whether you have a child attending school in the District or not, this referendum is a
reflection of our community values – the things we feel are vital components to the overall
character of our local society. By passing the referendum, these activities will continue
to be available to an entire generation of our youth, and will inspire and challenge them
on their path to maturity and success in the future. Without them, the consequences will
dramatically change the learning environment, as well as the value of the school district
we have all enjoyed for years.
Your vote is a personal matter. I simply encourage you to find out more about the
referendum, attend a public information meeting, ask questions, and encourage your friends
and neighbors to do the same. There is much at stake for our community.
Respectfully,
Michael Wagner
Caravel Woods resident
Appoquinimink School District parent
