The bottom line is I want what?s best for our students.

I have to look at the community and what the community says because I represent them.

He gave me that opportunity (to be board president) and was supportive. It?s been very difficult without him being there because it is a nine-member board.

We understand these are large numbers and this is late in the session but it's important to convey to you the magnitude of the problem.

The reality of this situation is that scarce resources will have to be allocated to this liability. That's the reality and it has not sunk in.

It's a problem that will never go away if we don't pay this now. It's like your home mortgage. If you pay now you will save a great deal of money in interest over the life of the loan.