As you know, the O'Fallon School District is trying to decide whehter to cut school activities such as sports and computers or raise our taxes. If it wasn't for computer class growing up, I would never be in the job position that I am in now.

Computers are a very important part in everyone's lives these days and times and I really feel these children need this.

Is there not a way to consolidate all of O'Fallon's schools into one district, cut the superintendent positions for each of the extra districts and reduce the pay of the $100,000-plus annual salaries instead of making the kids lose out on a very important time in their life? A lot of these kids are counting on sports scholarships to get to college and without having sports when they are younger, our children are getting a disadvantage among other students in America.

Raising the taxes is only going to drive more people out of O'Fallon as it has been doing over the last couple of years. More people are choosing Mascoutah for lower taxes and the same if not better education. There are a lot of people I know living in O'Fallon who can barely afford their homes now just due to the tax increases for the last 10 years.

There has got to be another way to help this kids instead of taking away from their household income and scholastic activities. Maybe the community can come together and figure out something that is in the best interests of these kids, because in the end, they are the ones who will be missing out.

Erica McGill

O'Fallon