Dear editor,

I am a Palmerton school district taxpayer and a Times News subscriber.Personally, I will be there to help Superintendent Scot Engler load his moving truck when his contract expires.We, the taxpayers, need a superintendent who is responsible to his boss, the taxpayer. This past year alone he pushed a big project ($21 million) for junior high improvements (cafeteria and central air) but also a synthetic athletic turf, a non-necessity. He knew full well that the teachers contract would be an issue, yet pushed the spending bill anyway. My school tax bill goes up $400 to $500 per year with no improvements.Math was an important subject when I was a student. Apparently not so much for Scot Engler. Aside from the enormous initial expense of artificial turf, you need specialized equipment or outside sourcing to maintain it. Palmerton school district can’t get rid of mowing equipment and supplies and maintenance fees it already incurs, because they need the equipment for all the other school grounds which have real grass. Palmerton athletes need two sets of shoes for the artificial turf and real turf, depending on which school district field they play on. Who pays for that?I would prefer a real turf expert be hired at say $50,000 a year to oversee our grounds than go the “fake grass” route. After 15 years we tear up our huge “fake grass investment”and re- do it. Too expensive at that point to restore natural grass. Finally, knowing that teacher contract negotiations are occurring, the decision to push the artificial field is irresponsible. But what does Scot Engler care? We, are here to stay and pay the bill.Superintendent Engler, I want to be the point person on the team that helps “expel” you from the Palmerton Area School District. Let’s stop making mistakes when it involves the taxpayers’ hard-earned income. Don’t take us for granted.John FergusonTowamensing Township