To the Editor:

In response to Mr. Ottolenghi's letter (Worthington News, July 23), I would like to point out a few things.

First of all, he defines affordability as the relationship between availability of funds and existing priorities. I beg to differ. Affordability is the ability to afford something. We may have "existing priorities" that are not sustainable and therefore must be adjusted. For example, right now, many people have had to adjust their priorities in order to afford gasoline.

The problem is, in our school district, once the union salaries are decided, history has shown that they are not able to be readjusted. For this reason, we must be pretty certain we can afford the union contract before it is approved. If that means we need to write only yearly contracts, so be it. In our family, we certainly cannot choose to purchase something in hopes of being able to afford it in the future. We need to know we can afford it, regardless of our existing priorities, because, as gasoline prices have shown us, those priorities may change.

The town hall events that Mr. Ottolenghi disparages are a positive and necessary step in discussing district finances with the residents who pay the bills. These meetings will help district leadership determine what is acceptable and affordable for the community as a whole before a levy is on the ballot. Anything less is foolish, because it is the people of the community who will be asked to approve the new levies to pay for rapidly rising district expenses.

If the leadership writes a long-term and unaffordable union contract, the community will be required to pay for it. And if that means programs and services for students must be cut, then that is exactly what will happen. The union contract will determine how much money is spent, with little regard for the students and the community.

Publicize the town hall events and listen to what the community has to say. You cannot force people to get involved, but you must offer the opportunity. After all it is our money!

Jill Alfred