When Bob Hume Speaks. . .

At the December 6th Octorara Area School Board meeting Bob Hume, Parkesburg's representative on the board. made the following statement as recorded by the board's secretary.

For the record the State Rep Mr. Hume, a registered Republican, mentions midway through his statement is Democrat Tom Houghton.  Although Representative Houghton received a majority of votes in Parkesburg he lost the district wide election this past November when Houghton, like many Democrats, was swept out of office without regards to his hard work on our behalf.

Last month a letter was presented by a group of parents that were interested in what is going on at the Intermediate School. Mr. Hume thanked them for their interest. He said he doesn’t think people understand the financial situation the District is in. He said they want smaller class size and added instruction. 

Mr. Hume feels the principal would like that as well. He said it is the job of the Board to stay within financial boundaries. He said we haven’t added anything for ten years. He said he doesn’t understand why the booster clubs and other clubs aren’t upset because they are the ones who have to pay for things.

Mr. Hume feels this is not right. He said the state legislators have taken away a tremendous amount of tax base. He said ten years ago the Economic Council and the County Commissioners paid $50,000 for a study. This study said we should have a bigger tax base and no one has done anything about it.

He went to County Commissioner Carol Aichele and presented information. She said she would help but only came to one meeting because there was a problem concerning bylaws.

Mr. Hume feels the Board should join forces with the booster clubs and any other club that is interested and explain the financial situation of the District. He said $170,000,000 of assessed value has been taken away. 

He said for ten years the Board has been asking the superintendent to cut here and there. He feels we are behind in giving the students what they need because we don’t have the funding to do it.

He thinks people need to speak up and call the legislators and tell them what is going on. He feels the state legislators don’t care about the District. He said we did have one legislator who was concerned about the District. He had people come in and talked about revitalization. He was voted out. Mr. Hume said he was the only legislator that made an attempt to assist our District. 

He feels we need to do something to get the legislators attention and rile up the people that are concerned about the District. Mr. Hume feels the booster clubs would be a good place to start. He said he believes if we are going to offer a sport at the District, we should fund it.

Mr. Hume feels the budget will be sickening. He believes it is immoral for a group of people to take away $170,000,000 from a school district and not replace it.

Well said Bob!