This letter begins simply as a thank-you note to everyone who worked together to ensure that our community's voice was heard loudly and clearly. The Irvington fields bond vote is over and the results are astonishing: over 1700 votes and a nearly 4 to 1 vote against the bond!

I believe, however, judging by the reaction to the last bond initiative two years ago, that we have not heard the end of the cry for artificial turf in future fields bond propositions.

The Board of Education (BOE) will probably convince themselves that, this time around, the failure of the initiative was due to the bad economic climate. They will choose not to recognize that a good portion of the vote was also due to the health and environmental concerns stemming from a lack of real choice in determining the field composition (no way to choose natural turf.)  In a sense, this has been a "perfect storm," bringing together ALL of these issues into one focused moment.  It's not just "about the economy, stupid!"

The polls are closed; however, the vote is not done yet - there is one final step I am urging all of you in the Village and the school district to undertake: we need to ensure the BOE and school administration understand clearly that the defeat was not solely due to the projected tax burden and not solely due to the current economic situation. To this end, I urge each one of you to take a few moments to follow up with a letter or e-mail to the BOE and the school district ensuring that they understand that the wide array of health and environmental issues were also of great concern to you and to our community. I would also urge you to copy these letters to your friends, to this paper and to the Irvington Parents Forum – ensuring that our follow-up communications get widespread public notice and thus won't be ignored or shunted to the side by the BOE.

Contact emails:
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board@Irvingtonschools.org <- Irv BOH
kathleen.matusiak@Irvingtonschools.org <- DIstrict Superintendent
Scott.Mosenthal@Irvingtonschools.org <- HS principal

Irvington Parent's Forum online:
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Irvingtonparentsforum/
By joining in this follow up letter writing campaign, the full import of the message we sent via our vote can be made irrefutable to the BOE and school administration.
Please share this request with your friends and acquaintances in the village and the school district!

Thanks,
Mark Gilliland
85 Harriman Road
Irvington, NY 10533