To the editor:

I just read that the Saranac Lake Board of Education is considering eliminating one of the high school art teacher positions after Valerie Patterson retires this year. This is so troubling on many levels, but the one that hits home for me is what my daughter Lila’s life in high school would have been like without art classes. She found a home in the art room, under the tutelage of Doc Ward. This was where she found her voice. She won many art awards and went on to major in art at SUNY New Paltz. She has continued her love of art, the talent that brings her joy. Without the strong art program at school, I don’t think that would have happened.

I hope others in the community speak up about how Saranac Lake has become known as a village that welcomes art and artists. It seems a little absurd that we would eliminate an art teacher position and still want to be known as a center for the arts in the Adirondacks.

Janis Beatty

Saranac Lake