To the Editor:

I was a grad of the class of 1976 at Norwood-Norfolk and worked for the school for almost 30 years as a cleaner. I feel people have lost sight of what the sole purpose of a school is. It is to educate.

With all the extra-curricular activities that the students have, the school is wasting precious funds that could be channeled into education. The current sports budget of about $250,000 could be cut by a huge amount and still be competitive.

The school exists to teach, and sports could be easily handled by a booster club. It is tragic that some departments beg for supplies, and the teams get what they want at the snap of a finger.

In my department, we had floor scrubbers 30 years old. Wet vacs 20 years old or older. These many times had to be torn apart and stuck back together to get another day out of them because of no money.

If you think cleaning is not a big deal see what the school looks like after 3 days of not being done. It would be an eye-opener. I am not anti-sports, just anti-waste.

As far as Bess goes, I personally have had no problems with her. As far Bess and Nikki Thomas (ex-business manager) I found them supportive and understanding to the cleaners and maintenance department’s problems. The former administration of Jake Short and Jay Lebrun was an other story indeed.

I feel this group is just on a witch hunt of Bess and the board and not taking in the big picture. Every department has some fat to be removed and through working as a team it can be done.

Focus not on your small target, but by reading the budget numbers closely and a bit of digging money to keep NNCS can be found.

If indeed there is injustice, fix it, but by keeping grudges and the constant assault on administration, you will get nowhere. The big problem here is Mr. Cuomo and his chop and slash on all NYS programs. We have credible congressmen and senators at your disposal to hear your concerns. This is a case where starting at the top is good.

George Osier, Norfolk