My children graduated from the Amherst Regional Schools in 2010 and 2013 with an excellent education that prepared them well for college and the future. They learned how to evaluate the validity of information and how to be thoughtful citizens. Current students deserve the same quality education.

Today, educating our youth is even harder and more complex than when my kids were in school. Students’ learning is impaired when we cut school budgets with larger class sizes and less feedback from teachers. The schools work hard to meet the needs of students of different backgrounds, abilities and interests. This takes funding and we, whether we have kids in the school or not, must provide it.

It is our obligation to invest in the future of our children of the towns, Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury. We may not be able to fix so many of our current problems, but well-educated citizens are one of our best hopes.

Mary Jo Maffei

Shutesbury