Frank Guinta LIED on his promise to improve public education!

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Manchester Express - Opinions - June 8 - 14, 2009 - Page 12

"Guinta didn’t keep his word on schools"

To the Editor,

My name is Lisa Frisselle. I am a lifelong Manchester resident who attended local schools, starting in 1967 in Mrs. George’s Kindergarten class at Mr. Shea’s Hallsville School and graduating from Central High in 1981. I love Manchester. She offers an environment of cultural and economic diversity which I value. I have owned a home in the south end for 21 years.

During Frank Guinta’s campaign for mayor in 2005, he published an opinion letter in the Union Leader titled, “After six years, it is time for action in the mayor’s office.” He accused Mayor Bob Baines of not living up to his campaign promises for public safety, education and making a plan for Manchester’s future. Frank Guinta made a pledge to reduce taxes, increase public safety and improve our education. He said, “Our schools are overcrowded, our textbooks are outdated, our schools are lined by portable classrooms and for the second year in a row our schools have been redflagged as “in need of improvement” by the federal government. Within the last paragraph of his opinion letter published in October 2005, he promises to develop comprehensive plans and to work to implement the plans that he has already developed.

Mayor Guinta, you said that you have developed plans to improve our schools. Please tell us what they are. You promised to improve our education, increase public safety and reduce Manchester’s tax rate.
The last words of the paragraph are “And I will keep my word.”

Frank Guinta has been Manchester’s mayor for over three years. As mayor, he is the chairman of the school board. He has more control than any other person concerning the direction Manchester is heading.

Before Frank Guinta became mayor, three Manchester schools were listed as “in need of improvement.” Three years later, every school in our district is now listed as “in need of improvement” and three schools are on the state’s list for “corrective action.”

Mayor Guinta, it is now time to explain to us what these comprehensive plans are that you developed over three years ago to improve education. Remember, you said that you would KEEP YOUR WORD. Mayor Guinta needs to be accountable for his campaign promise to improve Manchester’s education standing. Again, he said that he would KEEP HIS WORD.

I purchased my home 21 years ago with the understanding that New Hampshire does not have a sales tax or income tax and that the burden of covering the expenses to run the city is on the property owner. It’s just the way it is. Bedford has decided
to give their teachers a salary increase this year. This salary increase contributed to Bedford’s property tax rate increase. Educating their children is a priority and they decided that it is worth the increase in taxes. Why is it so difficult in Manchester to make our children’s education a priority?

I am asking all of the aldermen to make Manchester’s school system a priority. I cannot afford a private school education for my daughter. I can afford a tax increase to cover the costs of our school district and city services.

We have a choice to invest in our schools to create an environment where families want to live or we can neglect the needs of our children and create an environment where families will pack up and leave as soon as they can afford to get out of town.

Lisa Frisselle
Manchester, N.H.