Sharon Juve: Public education and our community’s future

To The Daily Sun,

As I sit here with corned beef roasting in the oven on St. Patrick’s Day, my mind keeps circling back to Meredith’s recent Town Meeting. While many focused on the town’s $21 million budget and 12% tax hike, I couldn’t help but think about the bigger picture — what’s happening to public education nationwide and how it will soon hit our backyard. Recent school meetings indicate a more than 4% increase.

Public schools have long been the backbone of our democracy, a tradition strengthened by Irish immigrants who helped establish them. They believed an educated public was essential for a thriving nation. But today, that foundation is at risk. Proposals like Project 2025 seek to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, cutting federal programs like IDEA and Title I that support students with disabilities and low-income families. If these are eliminated, towns like Meredith will be left struggling to fill the gap with local taxes — making our financial strain worse.

We already feel it. Property taxes are rising by $0.41 per $1,000 of valuation. The housing crisis is forcing businesses to recruit workers from outside the region because many can’t afford to live here. If federal education funding disappears, our public schools could suffer, pushing more families toward private education — without any promise of vouchers to help them afford it.

This isn’t just about budget numbers. It’s about the kind of community we want. Public education is a national imperative, but its effects are deeply local.

So as I check on my corned beef and reflect on our community’s future, I urge my neighbors to take action. Attend Town Meetings. Call state representatives. Advocate for policies that protect public schools and housing affordability — before the burden grows heavier.

Sharon Juve

Meredith