To the editor:

In rebuttal to School Committee Member Diane Farnsworth’s letter to the editor calling me a liar …

One of the things most people know about the O’Dells is that we are honest.  I resent Ms. Farnsworth saying things about me that are untrue.  I contacted School Committee members Sally Black and Elaine Pavao in mid-July to comment on the e-mail my daughter got about the “exciting new program” at Pocasset.  At that time, not in August, both Sally and Elaine said they were not aware of this issue.  If they were lying I don’t know, I only know what they told me in mid -July!  So, I was not trying to lie to anyone.

Secondly, I was told by an in-the-know person from Tiverton that Ms. Reilly is Mr. Rearick’s goddaughter.  I know that is not a true relative but for the sake of noting there was some connection there, I said “relative.  I believe if someone is your “goddaughter” you somehow have a relationship, correct?  So, that is not an untruth.

Ms. Farnsworth states in her letter that this was a “cost saving” solution, so how did I lie about saying it was to save money if she reiterated the same thing?

She failed to note that at the School Committee meeting on this issue, a few teachers stood up and said they did not believe this program was a good idea.  One teacher in particular stated that she has been teaching for 19 years in the elementary grades and she said she would find it hard to teach two grades with a lot of children on different levels.  Why don’t you put both sides if you want to be fair here.

Also, maybe you do not follow town politics, however, there are a lot of new house building permits having already been issued in Tiverton.  There are also many hundreds more approved applications.  I believe that, coupled with the fact that Ranger and Pocasset already have issues, i.e. Pocasset with “bubble” classes and Ranger having to hire another teacher, these extra students who will move into these houses may very well cause the town to need a new elementary school.  No one knows, but it is not unrealistic to forecast what is to come noting the above realities.

Please know your facts before you call someone a liar.

Madeline O’Dell

Tiverton