To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to the editor as a concerned resident and parent of students at Salmon River Central School.

There has recently been a petition circulating through the community regarding not renewing the contract of the school Superintendent, Jane Collins. I am a signatory to this petition for many reasons. One of which I will share in this letter. During Ms. Collins term, in the years from 2006- 2011, the district incurred legal fees of over $640,922.

By contrast, the Massena Central School district over the same period spent $313,681. During the past four years alone Ms. Collins spent $1,121,824 on legal fees.

Yes you read that right, over 1.1 million dollars from the schools general fund went to legal fees. From 2006 -2014 nearly 1.8 million dollars was drained from the school’s general fund for legal fees. I ask you, what type of atmosphere exists in a school that requires the services of lawyers to the tune of 1.8 million dollars?

It is important that we as a community come to together and advocate for our school, and ensure that the leadership is driving the district in the right direction. There has in recent times been an atmosphere of divisiveness in our district and this must end.

We as members of this community have the power to change this, and return our district to its rightful place as a shining example of top flight education, and unity. A group of concerned community members have come together to attempt to achieve this goal.

If someone asks you to sign the aforementioned petition I encourage all citizens of the district consider its merits, and hopefully join us in this effort. If you don’t have access to the handwritten petition you may also sign an online version of the petition at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/concerned-citizens-of-1?source=c.em&r_by=11409281

I implore all citizens of our district to join in this effort. It is time for change at Salmon River.

Dean Francis

Fort Covington