Cliff Benoist

I had a few phone calls, emails and people who talked with me in person about the open school board seat for East Pennsboro Area School District. Since I interviewed for the vacancy a few months ago and ran for election last year I have added quite a few things into my schedule. I talked with my wife about this open board position and if I should apply. We both agree that I have to much going on right now. So for anyone wondering if i will apply for the open board seat, the answer is no. This doesn't mean I won't run for a seat on the school board in the future. Once I am done with some of my firefighting training and some of the work being done on our house is finished , I will have to sit down with my wife and evaluate if I will run for office during next years election or any other vacant seats that open up between now and then.

Good luck to all the people who decide to apply for the vacancy.

Jake

I remember long ago,
on autumn days,
when the brown,
red,
and yellow leaves are on the ground,
I played catch with my dog,
Jake,
a golden retriever.

He would dart into the air,
after the ball,
like a man being shot out of a cannon,
at the circus.
He would come back down
landing on all fours,
and his ears flopping
as he would come
galloping back.

Mom was hanging up clothes,
while dad was waiting anxiously,
for his pigeons to soar home
from their race,
like silver jets,
coming in for a landing,
careful not to crash.

My brother,
sister,
and I,
played catch with my dog
and listened to the birds singing love songs
to each other,
the wind blowing in our hard, and
smelled the freshly cut green grass,
for the last time as winter slowly approached,
with the frost lying on the ground,
like frozen teardrops,
and the leafless trees,
like skeletons,
with fragile bones.

I'd throw the ball
and it would land in a mud puddle,
like a chocolate stream.
Jake would come charging back,
ears flopping, and
fur blown back.
His straw colored, silky coat
smeared with chocolate mud.
I was happy when
he'd come prancing back
with the ball,
and leaping on me,
covering me with mud.

Growing up now,
I remember those easy times,
just thinking about playing with my dog.

Now, Jake lies peacefully in my backyard.
Every autumn as I watch the leave
tumble off the trees,
I think of playing catch,
with Jake,
and the brown,
red,
and yellow leaves
lying on the ground
long ago.

by Jennifer A. Benoist
©Fall 1991 Jennifer A. Benoist

It looks like the state has released some estimates for property tax relief. The estimated savings, for the 5,251 homes listed in the estimate, will be $128 per home in Cumberland county. I hope the relief we do get doesn't get wiped away by the tax increases we are facing this year and the potential increases over the next few years.

Estimated Tax Relief Per Homestead and Farmstead

My name recently made an article in the Patriot News. I can't argue the fact that I mentioned going back to half day kindergarten, but that isn't the whole statement/question I was asking. Even though the current board decided against moving forward with a building project this year, the issue can and most likely will come up in then next year or two. So we still have to ask ourselves, do we want to build in the near future or put a long term plan together that includes going back to half day kindergarten for the time being.

Let us assume that we go back to half day kindergarten. What does that buy us? For one, it gives us the chance to do some long term planning for building and adding full day kindergarten in the future. It also removes the potential population problems at the elementary schools for quite some time. In the short term, it lets us focus our efforts on our budget.

If you are not aware, we have quite a problem with the budget this year. This year is not going to be the only year we have budget problems. Until the tax revenues cover our budget, we are going to see tax increases. Don't be surprised that next year we see a big tax increase, potentially more than the index. I hope we don't, but I am trying to be realistic. We have so much that we have to cut from the budget this year just to make the index. The only way to put those items, that we cut from the budget this year, back into the budget next year or the following year is to increase taxes to cover their cost.

I wonder when some of our current bonds will be payed off? The money we use to pay for those bonds could be used to pay for a new building project. At that point we should entertain the idea of full day kindergarten again. In the time between now and then we could start planning what all of this looks like. So when the time does come we can be more proactive instead of reactive.

So what do I personally think about this idea? Up until this point I was explaining an option for all residents of East Pennsboro School Disctrict, not just those parents who have or will have children coming through kindergarten. I have three more kids that will be making their way through kindergarten, one already did make it through the full day program. I think the full day program is wonderful and support it 100%. I will say it one more time so there is no mistaking my personal feelings on full day kindergarten. I support it 100%.

That said, it isn't the point I am trying to make. I am trying to show that there are options to consider before we decide to increase taxes to build. No option should be excluded from the discussion. Has anyone put together the numbers for the budget if we went back to half day kindergarten? It would be interesting to see how much of a difference it makes on our budget so any discussion we have around the idea would have data for both choices.

This is one of those times where you have to put personal opinions aside and start asking what is best for our district. We have to look at the pros and cons of such choices and pick the one that makes the most sense for everyone involved.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments. I will get back to them as soon as possible. If you would like to have a more private conversation, feel free to email me at cbenoist@cliffbenoist.com or call me.

Apathy is a real problem that all communities, across this great country, face. I hope that people wake up and decide to do something. I put a small list together for those of you who want to start thinking of others and make a difference. By no means is this list even close to complete. There are tons of organizations that could use your help.

1. Meals-on-Wheels, Enola PA - seniors benefit from this program.
2. Big Brothers Big Sisters - the youth of our area benefit with your help.
3. Greater Harrisburg Area Habitat for Humanity - Helping build homes for those who normally can't afford a home.
4. 27 news story on soup kitchen - Good story about a local soup kitchen. All of them could use the help.
5. Local fire companies - Your local fire companies are always looking for people to help with events. These events help fund the local firehouse.

There are many more organizations that could use the help. Make it a family event if you have kids. Teach them the value of helping others and the community.

Do you part! Get active and help make our community a better place.