Times are tight right now. The stock market is up and down by hundreds of points on a daily basis. Many people are in a panic and the first thing these people will do is react. They may find ways to skip meals, miss medication, and the like. My fear is that we will see the same thing when control of gifted programs falls in the hands of the local school board. I'm not saying anything against any particular school board (and ours has been sympathetic to gifted needs), but I am saying, when times are tight, budgets are slashed. What is to say that in a tight year, gifted programs, not protected by the coolness that prevails via a 5-year plan, won't be cut? How often have you heard, those gifted students, they'll get it - it, being a good education. Yet, gifted students, proportionately, drop out at a greater rate. They aren't getting it!

Please leave control over gifted programs to a "higher authority" - just as we do any other SPED program. Please allow these students to have the security of knowing their needs will be met without the capricious nature that would be inherent in a plan that must be renewed annually. Please allow gifted directors/specialists to get on with the job of program management and education, as opposed to tying up so much of their time in annual plans. Please do what's best for the children.