Lately, I have noticed a great many articles in this newspaper referring to the school budget information that has been released from all of the surrounding school districts. As you read about the school district statistics and justifications for their budgets, please don't lose sight of the most important thing that schools do.

We truly take care of the most important people in the world: your children.

My wife and I often discuss what we want our children to get out of their educational experiences. Of course, getting good grades is a priority, but more than that, we have both agreed that one of the most important things that we expect our children to receive is a sense of wonderment at the process of learning. We want them to be open-minded about the world and the people in it. While our oldest is not yet 2, and our youngest is not quite ready to be born, I can hardly wait for the first dinner table discussion to hear about their day at school.

You see, I plan on making the education of my children the most important aspect of my life. I plan on providing the teachers of my child with all support necessary for them to pass off their knowledge and wisdom. What will be most exciting will be the first time my children interact with a teacher or staff member who comes from a very different background than either their mother's or my own. My expectation is that the teachers and staff will do everything possible to provide my children with the knowledge, experiences and wisdom that befit them. As an employee and resident of the Union Springs Central School District, I am proud to think that my children will one day experience the learning environment the people of this school and community have strived to create.

It never ceases that a struggling child or a family facing a job loss or personal tragedy gives me a fitful night of sleep. Teachers often share stories with me about a student who has shared his or her agony about a parental split-up or a lost pet. They confide in counselors and other staff members about adolescent break-ups, broken friendships and an array of other struggles. Our only hope is to provide them with a source of support, a compassionate ear or maybe even a pleasant distraction to make their day better.

My staff and I see this every day, and we strive to deal with our students and their families with the utmost compassion. It's a professional educator who sees a child struggling and reaches out to inspire that student to greatness. It's that dedication to our students and their families that makes coming to work a true pleasure at Union Springs Central School District.

There are countless times during that day that I witness teachers and staff spending quality time with students. Often, teachers are interacting with students regarding a part of the lesson that the student may not have understood. Or, the teachers and staff engage the students in conversations about everyday items ranging from favorite restaurants, to political discussions about the upcoming presidential election. It's more than just curriculum and teaching. It's presenting multiple opportunities for our children to interact with educated people, and learn from a wide body of knowledge. It's allowing them to practice what they need to become the adults we strive to be.

It's easy to talk to my peers and the faculty about test data, instructional strategies or to create a final exam schedule. Where our job is challenging lies in the fact that we speak to a lot of children about what it takes to be a productive citizen of the United States and the world, all the while remembering that they are just children and need our social and emotional support. Please keep these things in mind as you cast your ballot in the upcoming budget votes. Try to remember that in our business, we are producing more than products. We are producing the next generation of American citizens and leaders.

Andy Eldridge is principal at the Union Springs Middle School.