La st week we adopted a new budget and elected three candidates to the Ellenville Central School District's Board of Education. As we did this we joined school districts around the state as they did the same – supply our children with the proper funds and elect the right people to give them the best possible education.

So what does it say that the turnout for the election was so appallingly low? Out of an estimated 6,600 voters within the Ellenville Central School District less than 800 people actually took the time out of their day to come and voice their approval or disapproval. Given this, it really isn't fair to say, "we adopted". It wouldn't be right to say "most" and barely accurate to say "some". In truth, only 13% of eligible voters went to the polls on election day.

What are we to make of this when we claim how important our children's future is? How they need to be ready in an ever more competitive world? Those words ring hollow every year around this time as a staggering majority of people give up their most direct chance to effect change on the institution they send their children to five days a week.

It boggles the mind that, at every chance, one can hear someone complaining about his or her new school tax bill yet when it comes time to accept or deny a new budget, most people just sit on their hands – content to grumble as they write the check. Now we are not suggesting that the budget should have been vetoed, but isn't it reasonable to question why more people didn't take an interest when they had the chance to do something about it? The result of our collective inaction will affect our wallets and, to a certain extent, our children's future.

It has been wonderful and inspiring to see so many people getting involved in the efforts to revitalize the village and town economically – but that cannot be where they end. If Wawarsing's residents want a more vibrant or more desirable community, they cannot leave it to someone else.

To that end, it is important to remember that one of the most important things we possess is the power of home rule. If we continue to follow the status quo rather than question, we close the door any possibility for real change – whether the issue is school taxes, economic development, local jobs, or new public initiatives. If we do not get involved we say one of two things – that "things are fine" or "we don't care what happens". Are either of these true? Furthermore, are either of these things – complacency and apathy – the values we want to raise our children by and instill them with? The choice, as always, remains ours.

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