Vote against state bond referendum in March

Although it is important to support our great colleges, it is equally important to support the K-12 infrastructures that pave the way to the campuses of higher education. School districts spend millions annually on basic operating costs and salaries, yet there is negligible funding available to address major capital needs such as school replacement. Our children should not have to wait until they are old enough to enroll in college before they have the “luxury” of a safe, amiable learning environment.

The need for capital investment becomes obvious when you consider the age of some of our 20 elementary schools.

Over the years, 60 additions have been added to older schools. Additions do little to compensate for the inefficiency of outdated boilers and air conditioning systems. In fact, additions can contribute to the problem.

Even worse, Some of our elementary schools are not designed to accept all of the basic security updates we need without costly modifications.

There are also major economic benefits when we build a new school and consolidate under-served, energy inefficient schools within the same bus zone. Each consolidation results in a savings of between $800,000 and $1 million every year. Add to that windfall the additional savings from technological advances in energy conservation systems, one less roof to replace and one less parking lot to pave.

Unless a portion of the $2 billion bond is allocated to the needs of all of the state’s 115 local education agencies, I urge Rowan County citizens to vote no on the referendum in March.

—Chuck Hughes

Salisbury

Curious contradictions

In reference to a story published Jan. 16 about a nonprofit being banned from adoptions at the animal shelter, I’m going to nail a few bullet points here.:

• Rowan County Animal Shelter is a kill shelter.

• Feb. 1 is the date for the court to hear and address the charges against Jen Frasier and Craig Gordon.

• County Manager Aaron Church states in this article, “Rowan County leaders are trying to make policy changes at the shelter.” I looked at county commissioners’ agendas for the six months. Not one written word about the shelter.

• Rowan County Animal Shelter will not accept volunteers.

• Just about the first thing you read when opening the shelter’s website is “No adoptions will be processed after 4 p.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays, due to closing procedures.” The adoption hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

• Rates are $80 for the community and $15 for rescues. I just don’t like that. How long do they have them? Oh, three days and then they are killed.

• Church, Clai Martin and county commissioners, it’s time for the public to do a background search on you and the animal shelter.

How dare you state you’re “going to write a code of ethical conduct and standards for animal care.” You kill animals. You’re not worthy. Have you read your own code of ethics for the titles you carry? I have.

— Dodie Le Fevre-King

Salisbury

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