A student writes about the bond issue
Dear editor,
Recently you’ve heard from many community members regarding the upcoming bond referendum; some for and some against. I will not be able to vote Sept. 13, but I would like to encourage you to vote yes. Let me describe for you my perspective as a student in the Greene County School District.
Throughout my education I have attended classes in the south grade, elementary, middle and high school buildings. I’ve experienced the parking chaos at the elementary school as a passenger. I can remember the worry and stress I felt as a first through fourth grader trying to navigate through the traffic when I walked or was dropped off. I can remember my mom’s frustration at having to drive around trying to find a place to park on rainy or snowy days just wanting to deliver me safely. The new plan will provide a safer environment for students and traffic by offering an off-street drop-off zone.
My class never had to go to Scranton or Grand Junction. Instead we attended the middle school for fifth through eighth grade; I think we got to know the building pretty well. As you are aware, the middle school has three floors of stairs with very limited ADA accessibility.
What you might not know is that we have a classmate with Muscular Dystrophy. My friend would arrive late for his classes because he had to ride the lift up and down the stairs, but he would have to wait until foot traffic was off the stairs for safety purposes. I can also remember days when the lift was out-of-order. On these days my friend wouldn’t be in class with the rest of us. Can you imagine?
Now I am a junior at the high school; my day begins as I walk into a newer portion of the school, and by new I mean 1992 (my mom was a student at Jefferson-Scranton High School during the last construction phase). This area is air conditioned, but as I proceed down the hall to my first class I can feel the temperature change. In the late spring and late summer these original classrooms are hot and stuffy because there is no air conditioning and really no air movement.
Yes, I understand that when my grandparents went to Jefferson Community High School there was no air conditioning at all, but now we have some areas that are and some that are not. This is not energy efficient and no doubt the energy bills reflect that.
The new geothermal system will save the district money. When money is saved in one area it can be better spent in others. For example, I have text books from the early ‘90s. No, the bond referendum will not buy new books, but saving money can. According to the Pay It Forward committee, geothermal energy can lead to an estimated operational savings of up to $85,000 per year.
I’m sure you’re thinking it’s easy for me to say since I will not be paying for this, but my parents and grandparents are willing to make this investment. I’d like to think that one day I can build my future in Greene County, at which time I would be contributing to this investment as well. I encourage you to use the Pay It Forward tax calculator to get a better feeling of what your actual investment would be.
I will not benefit from these proposed changes as I will graduate in 2018. However, I have younger siblings in seventh grade, first grade, and one that hasn’t started school yet. I am hopeful that they will have the opportunity to be part of the new Greene County school experience.
Respectufully, Gwen Black, Class of 2018
