I’m writing as a 27-year resident of Northampton, a former writer for educational publishers and high school math teacher, the co-chair of the Leeds School Council from 2009 to 2011, and the parent of two kids, ages 20 and 22, who grew up in our city.

I’ve been following with great interest the current debate in Northampton over fully funding the city’s schools. I would like to add to the discussion by providing a little history. This is by no means a new issue that arose seemingly out of nowhere — cut after cut, year after year, has led to the bleed-out occurring now.

Here is a timeline of just some of the slow, yet steady, harm that has been done to our city’s public schools over the past 19 years:

■ Around 2005/06: The mayor threatened to get rid of the instrumental music program in the elementary schools if the override she proposed didn’t pass — it lost by one or two votes, then the program was eliminated.

In 2009/10/11: Teacher positions were cut or threatened to be cut in only some of the elementary schools, and there was a big push to close one of the four schools (first Bridge Street School then, after a backlash, Ryan Road School). A music teacher position was on the chopping block at JFK (the teacher at the time spoke eloquently during her timed two minutes at a joint City Council/School Committee meeting about students for whom the only highlight of their day may be their art or music class).

During the 2007- 2011 era: Pink slips were regularly sent out in May and then money was “found” and many (but not all) of the positions reinstated in July or August. A language program for sixth graders at JFK was cut.

■ In 2011: After a Leeds school teaching position was put on the chopping block for the second year in a row, I met with the mayor and raised concerns about increased class sizes. I was assured that 30 or more students in a class is not a problem if you have good teachers.

■ Around 2013: The honors math program was eliminated for eighth graders at JFK.

In 2017- 2018: There was no musical theater production at the high school that year due to an ongoing two-year battle over funding the stipend for the teacher-director for her after-school hours of work.

And these are only a very small handful of examples that I happen to remember. I encourage others to come forward with experiences and memories of their own to add to this history, which has led to where we are now.

For almost two decades, elected officials have told parents in Northampton some variation of “our hands are tied,” (are they really?) and “the state needs to change their funding” (true, but if it hasn’t happened after almost 20 years of lobbying, do we really believe that the Legislature will suddenly have an epiphany?). I appreciate the citizens and especially the city councilors who are actively addressing this issue now and taking a stand against the historical apathy and dismissiveness that has led to this crisis.

Maybe this year, enough is finally enough. For the sake of our city’s kids, I hope it is.

Julie Brand Asbornsen lives in Florence.