CURB: WHY IT MATTERS

Note: This is my story, why CURB and preserving town/school services matters to me. Please let people know why our town and schools are important to you, your experience and concerns. Please submit your story to curbtiverton@cox.net .
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In writing about the contentious situation surrounding Tiverton's budget and the upcoming Financial Town Meeting, it's easy to get caught up in all the drama and lose sight of why we're doing it. It's important to keep a balance between forcefully making our case and refuting all the misinformation out there, while also reminding ourselves why it matters.

For me, there are a number of reasons that CURB and the goal of supporting a reasonable budget is so important. I sincerely believe that Tiverton isn't just our address, or a bunch of streets and buildings, but it's a community. We may have widely-differing backgrounds and opinions, but we're all part of this community, we all share in its benefits, and we all share the costs. Each of us has a vital stake in making sure our town government operates as cost-effectively as possible, while also making sure it has the resources to continue providing the community services we rely on. This includes education, public safety, the parks, the libraries, roads and infrastructure, senior services, and much more.

For all the negativity some in town heap on their own community, the fact is that there's no shortage of people who want to move here. Some get so caught up in their own fear and anger that they miss the basic truth that Tiverton is, in many ways, the type of idyllic small-town many people yearn to live in. For all the problems we face, I'm happy and proud to live in Tiverton, to raise and educate my kids here.

In 2004, I saw Tiverton's quality of life under threat from mall developers looking to force themselves upon the town, escalating costs mixed with shortsighted policies, and internal strife that was tearing the town apart. There's a saying that goes, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem". Rather than simply complain and tear down my town, I decided to try to be part of the solution by serving on the Town Council. I ran twice and was elected twice, and one day I'll detail the many issues the town faced, and the progress that was made. We do a terrible job of telling our story in Tiverton, of making sure people know and remember all the positive things about our town and schools. There's a certain "Yankee sensibility" that makes us feel like we're bragging and self-indulgent if we speak about the good we've accomplished. Unfortunately, those who are unhappy have no such hesitation about their complaints (often making things up or fundamentally not understanding the facts in the process). This one-sided argument leads understandably to many people's views of our community being warped beyond anything resembling reality. It reminds me of talk-radio; if all you knew about the U.S.A. was what you hear on talk-radio, you'd think we live in a third-world country instead of the greatest and most prosperous nation in history. Life, and people, will always be flawed, and there will always be problems. If you choose to focus only on the negative, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Although I chose not to run for Town Council again in 2008, I remain engaged in the community. My main reason for leaving elected office is also my main reason for staying involved: my kids. My 26-year-old daughter, Theresa, was born with Down syndrome. She now is involved in an excellent program that provides life skills, job skills and social skills. While there have been many bumps along the way, I'm thankful I live in a town (and state) that values people with developmental disabilities. There have been many wonderful teachers and volunteers and staff along the way who have made a huge difference. Theresa also cares deeply about her community. She is a registered-voter, and hasn't missed an election. In fact, when I ran for Town Council, I asked her if she'd vote for me. She said,"If you're nice to me." Typical voter.

My son Casey is in first grade at Fort Barton. Like most parents, my overriding concern is for his future, his education, and the kind of town he will inherit. Some people bad-mouth our schools, selectively presenting standardized test-scores as "proof". I can say that with both of my kids, our experience with Tiverton schools has been remarkable. Nothing's perfect, and I sometimes may have an issue with the school department, but given the enormous challenges they face, I believe that overall, our schools serve our town and our kids well. Like most services, education isn't just an expense, but an investment in our own future. I speak not in political terms, but as a parent of a 7-year-old who loves his school, loves his teachers, loves his classmates, and is doing phenomenally well. I see every day the hard work of dedicated professionals. I also know there are big issues that must be addressed, from reducing costs to improving test scores, but we aren't going to solve them by turning on each other and looking out for only ourselves. When I've raised issues, it was with the goal of making the schools better, not dismantling them. Those looking for a quick-fix should remember these words: "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

There are many reasons why I do this, and why it matters. But what drives me most is this: when my son asks me how the FTM went, I don't want to have to look him in the eyes and tell him that the budget was slashed, and we're facing school-closings and teacher-layoffs and program-cuts, and I didn't do everything I could before the meeting to prevent it.

Brian Medeiros
127 Grinnell Ave.