Letters to the Editor

The rest of the story? Ok, Let’s look at the rest of the story.

Anywhere you go in Nebraska, the “cost per pupil” figure is calculated the same…by the State of Nebraska. You can look those costs up for any school district in the State. When you do, you will see that only eight have a lower cost per pupil than does Gothenburg. In Dawson County, Gothenburg has the lowest cost per pupil of any public school…$688/year lower than Cozad and $828/year lower than Lexington. In fact, Gothenburg is $1,488/year lower than the state-wide average. When Mr. Teahon said we have one of the lowest “costs per pupil” in Nebraska, he was stating a demonstrable fact; he wasn’t hiding some secret relating to your tax bill and he darn sure wasn’t lying to you.

No, those costs don’t include the cost of bond repayment, and there is reason. Bonds pay for buildings over a 20- to 25-year period. The buildings last for 75-100 years. Eight hundred students a year use this building so over the next 80 or so years, that means 64,000 students will benefit from this school. Did you figure that in when you looked at your tax bill?

Also, while the State Constitution mandates we provide an education for the children of Gothenburg (which is what the cost-per-pupil is measuring), it does not mandate the age or size our school buildings must be. The residents of District 20—let me emphasize that—the residents, the people who live, work, shop and worship here, chose by way of an election to increase their taxes above and beyond the annual cost-per-pupil to provide for the school buildings we now have. If you lived here, you would have been able to express your opinion through your vote…but you don’t live here.

I have read your letters telling the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District how to run its system, your letter complaining that somehow it wasn’t “fair” that you didn’t get to vote for a new school in a district in which you don’t live, your letter to me when I was on the board of education for District 20 telling me I should “investigate” one of our teachers because she came from South America, the Chamber of Commerce on how to run the fall Harvest Festival, the city council on how to run the city, the county on how they should clean out road ditches and now basically calling the superintendent of our school system a liar.

Mr. Klein, as I said, you don’t live here. You inherited some land here, but by your own choice you are not a member of this community. You are a member of a community in Colorado. You talk about the family farm, but truthfully, yours isn’t a family farm it is a farm owned by your family. A significant difference.

If you want us to listen to your advice, move back. Instead of being an absentee landlord with no interest in the area except how much money you can make from your property, farm the ground yourself. Buy your pickup here. Buy your food here. Go to church here, get on the city council or school board…in other words, join THIS community.

Your feelings and beliefs may not change, but your voice would have more relevance if you lived here and participated in the decision making entities. If nothing else you might actually learn what an effective superintendent of schools Mr. Teahon is and the fact that, without his excellent budgeting and financial management of our district, your taxes would be even higher.

Mark Peyton, Gothenburg

On Saturday, June 18, the Gothenburg Swim Team hosted Minden, Lexington and Elwood with approximately 165 swimmers competing in 134 events, for a total of around 570 splashes. The meet went very smoothly and could not have without all of the community support we received in the days leading up to the meet.

We appreciate Frito-Lay for donating chips, as well as Pony Express Chevrolet and Runza for donating ice for the concession stand. We’d also like to express gratitude the City of Gothenburg for spraying around the pool for mosquitoes, the pool manager and guards for prepping the pool and guarding during the meet, and especially all of the community members who came to support the team and cheer for our swimmers.

We are reminded, once again, how fortunate we are to live in this town!

The Gothenburg Swim Team

I have always been proud of growing up in Gothenburg, but now, even more so. Recently, 40 or 50 classmates of 1961, from 11 different states and all across Nebraska, from Alliance to Omaha, came together for our 50th-year high school reunion.

We had the splendid opportunity to take a couple tours. The Gothenburg school tour was guided by superintendent Mike Teahon, and the community tour by Matt Williams. If these two individuals are representative of your Gothenburg leadership, it is easy to see why you have grown and prospered, while many other Nebraska communities are, sadly, closing their doors.

The two leaders displayed incredible knowledge, passion, devotion and focus as they shared the vision and the philosophy of the school and community. Showing humility, each one spoke of the tremendous effort of Gothenburg’s many volunteer citizens and their willingness and interest in ensuring that whatever was needed could be accomplished.

The community should be applauded for long term planning to strategize, invite, recruit and support the best possible services to attract and keep families, from the schools’ excellent staff, facilities and community involvement to the business and farming community’s recruiting and supporting top notch companies, with financial and educational incentives in addition to recreational opportunities.

As expected, the reunion was most enjoyable; visiting and becoming reacquainted with many of the “best people” on earth. But what we did not anticipate was the feeling of great pride and pleasure many in our group expressed, as we walked in your hallways, and drove down your streets, and used your services. We found everyone welcoming and accommodating. Just seeing the growing, thriving, connected community of Gothenburg, where we developed our roots, was most rewarding. Keep it up! Pride renewed!

Elaine (Anderson) Peters

According to a letter to the edttor in last week’s issue of The Times, “Barack Obama immediately cut funding for (Egyptian) democracy promotion .... and eliminated money given directly to civil society groups altogether.”

However, according to an October 2009 inspector general audit, “The Government of Egypt has resisted USAID/Egypt’s democracy and governance program and has suspended the activities of many US NGOs (non-governmental organizations) because Egyptian officials thought these organizations were too aggressive.”

“Per the Egyptian government’s complaints, the U.S. now limits it’s funding to NGOs registered with the (Egyptian) government, therefore excluding most human rights groups,” according the Huffington Post.

Most times there are two sides to a story.

I did not mean to pick on aid to Egypt specifically in my 3-2-11 letter. Aid to Egypt is just one piece of the foreign aid pie. My point was that I think it is ironic that the Republican tea partiers continually pick on entitlements which help people in our own country, calling them socialistic, communistic, etc., but don’t seem to mind the aid that goes to foreign countries.

Penny Fattig, Gothenburg