Letters to the Editor
Lakota tribes lives in nearly impossible conditions

Thank you for your insightful synopsis of the treaty process with Native American tribes. Many may respond, "That's all water under the bridge. It's the world we inherited. There's little sense in revisiting the past." What many don't understand is that the dire current circumstances for the Lakota have made life near impossible. I will restrict my comment to the reservation in Pine Ridge, S.D., for that is the one I am most familiar with.

Local economy outside of tribal government is nearly non-existent and finding employment in the strained and unwelcoming economic sectors outside of the reservation is difficult at best. Education is by far the worst in the nation, with 70 percent of enrolled students not finishing high school. Sixty percent of the housing on the largest reservation in S.D. is contaminated with black mold, posing a serious even fatal health hazard for occupants, and the statistics on radon exposure are just as frightening. Once again, uranium contamination from nearby or unsanctioned mining is seeping the water supply. Diabetes is rampant, about 70 percent of adults testing positive or borderline. (Incidence among Native Americans nationally is 14 percent --thought to be critical at that level.) While diabetes has become epidemic, little nutritious food is available. A sole, small supermarket exists in Pine Ridge, filled with processed food. Most people have to drive nearly two hours to Rapid City to shop. Per capita income is BY FAR at Pine Ridge is the lowest in the nation. Only in Haiti is mail life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere lower. Given this environment, every other measurement for social, economic, physical welfare could only be alarming.

The persistence of these stressors, many of which are echoed throughout the remaining Lakota reservations, makes it hard to believe the assault on the Lakota is merely a footnote in history. It is very much alive and operational in the Lakota territory, despite the work of many dedicated individuals and groups to reverse the devastating effects upon the Lakota community. Many understand this situation as the 21st Century version of the continued land grab from Native Americans. How could they not? Land once thought barren has now become desirable. The message to the Lakota is unmistakable: Leave your land or perish. Little wonder that withdrawal is a viable option.

Betty Clinton

Cambridge, Mass.

Thanks for the Hannah Montana picture

Thank you so much for running the picture of Jennifer and Julianne with Mitchel Musso at the Hannah Montana Concert! It was a surprise to the girls that I gave you this picture! Of course, they loved seeing themselves in the paper with Mitchel! Thank you for all that you guys do for Gulf Breeze! Hard to believe that this summer it will be seven years since we became "Breezers!" Can we call ourselves that if we live "down the highway!" Vici and Lisa, you were some of the first people we met here! Thanks again!

Jill Mitchell

Gulf Breeze

GBHS parents meet about block schedule

I would like to thank the concerned parents who hosted the Gulf Breeze High School block schedule meeting on Thursday night. All citizens of Gulf Breeze need to be aware of the changes being proposed to the school day by the Santa Rosa School Board. Our property values are affected by the beautiful area that we are blessed to call home and the academic excellence of our schools.

The School Board is on record as stating that the block hour changes that they are attempting to implement in our high school has nothing to do with academic achievement but has all to do with the districts operating budget. They propose to change the current daily class schedule from (7) 50 minute periods to (4) 85 minute blocks. This is all proposed to eliminate teacher head count to move the school budget back into the black. Many school districts have moved away from the block schedule and are re implementing periods after it was discovered to be not cost effective and did not enhance the academic achievement standards of the schools.

When asked to elaborate on alternative budget plans the school board representatives were very mute, with the exception of eliminating busing from the proper. Budget cuts and head count reduction is not new to American society. American business has been going through this since 9- 11. The school board is looking at the low hanging fruit, Teachers. From Milton, the Gulf Breeze teaching staff is viewed as just a cost on the budget line and not the asset they are to our community. Much was said about their productivity during the school day and not the time that is put into teaching every night as papers are graded and class preparations are completed. The School Board needs to first complete a thorough top down review of personnel and administrative budgeting. Although much of the school's funding base is ear marked funds from the legislature imposed by the States Constitution, this funding has been increasing year over year for the last 10 years.

A question was asked how we could make up the funding short fall. South Santa Rosa County, all property owners within a mile of the inner coastal, already pay 61 percent of all property tax receipts for the county. This tax base is sent back to Tallahassee and reapportioned to the counties throughout Florida. The legislature decrees that due to our cost of living in the panhandle, we are returned only 94 cents out of every dollar sent to Tallahassee. We subsidize the other counties in the state. We should write our Senators and representatives and demand our fair share of our county tax base.

John Rogers is retiring as the Superintendent of the Santa Rosa County School District. The residents of Gulf Breeze need to look into the candidates stand on the block scheduling of classes in our High School. The school board must be held accountable to the wishes of GBHS parents. This is a critical issue that will impact our children and property values as the academic excellence of our school system is challenged.

The Santa Rosa School Board and administration has a number of difficult choices ahead of them to fund our schools. Putting the shrinking dollar ahead of superior academic achievement is not in the interests of the residents of Gulf Breeze. The board members need to do their job and find a solution that does not experiment with our son's and daughter's education.

Scott Musmansky

Gulf Breeze