Vote for New Schools!

Dear Parents,

Last Friday, a VERY important letter came home talking about voting in May. On May 4, we have a special issue on the ballot. We are voting for new schools!

I would like the chance to talk about it and give you examples of why we DO need new schools.

1. Our schools are very old. The buildings have leaks, mold, small classrooms, and many other problems. The health of your child would improve by not being around old, moldy classrooms.

2. These buildings were not originally built for small children. For example: Central was built as a high school! Some rooms are tiny with no bathrooms. Bathrooms are down the hall and not close to their classroom. The cafeteria, gym, music, the playground, are not close to their classrooms. It takes at least 10 minutes of traveling time to get to the gym or the playground. That takes 10 minutes down, 10 minutes back. That is 20 minutes + of learning time that is taken away from your child. Some Kindergarten rooms have big science lab tables built into the floor that blocks the room for the children. A new school would be built for small children and built smart.

3. Class Sizes would be more even throughout the district and throughout grade levels. Some classrooms have 25 kids while the same grade at another school have only 17. A new building would even out those numbers. A smaller class size would give your child more individual attention. I cannot think of any bad aspects of having a small class size. Would you want your child in a class of 25 or 17?

4. The new school would be located at the High School area. It would give the elementary schools access to the pool, tennis courses, the bigger gyms, the auditorium, the track and much more. Your child would more opportunities than ever before!

5. The new school would have a brand new playground and equipment. Central does not have a good size area for a playground. Some children have to cross a very dangerous street to a playground. And the playground they have - is still not even close to being big enough for all of the children to play safely. There are no room for swings or for 80-90 kids at one time to play together. (Each grade level at Central has 4 classes. Each class has around 20 kids.)

6. The kids deserve a new, safe place for them to play and learn.

7. The government is only offering this deal one time. If the issue is voted down - there will be no second chance. The new school will cost around 240,784,445. Coshocton City does not have to pay the full price - if we act on it now! The state is paying for 67% and we will be responsible for the 33%. This chance will never come around again. The cost to repair schools will be just as much or more than our 33% will be.

8. All elementary schools do not have air conditioning. The new schools would!!!!!! For me, as a teacher, it is almost unbearable to stand all day in a hot building. It is hotter in here than outside. For me, as a parent, I do not want my child in an environment like that. I can tell you from experience - the kids do not learn well while they are hot, thirsty and sweating. Their minds are not focused on school.

Als0 - in the upcoming years - the governor is saying he wants to push all-year-round-schools in Ohio. Your child will go to school in the summer months. How hot do you think the rooms will be in July and August? If we had new schools - we would already have air conditioning to be prepared for that when the time comes.

8. The new tax would be 30 Cents a day (on a $100,000 home) . For me, I cannot possibility think that someone would vote no on 30 cents a day. Look at the benefits of 30 cents a day!!!!!!

9. There is not enough room now for all teachers. Some teachers now do not even have their own classroom. Most art teachers and music teacher travel and take their supplies with them. Some teachers classrooms were first a janitors closet or a hallway. They have had to deal with the lack of space to make it a happy learning environment for your child.

10. Sharing gyms/cafeterias: All of the schools have to share their rooms. At South Lawn and Lincoln - the gym has many purposes. The gym is the art room. It is the computer room. It is the gym. It is the cafeteria It is the music room. It is the auditorium. It is many many things. At Central - they do not even get their gym the whole day. The Jr. High and other programs use the gym. The students are not able to use their gym whenever they want or how they want because they are always sharing it. And most of the time - the sport practices always came first over top of the elementary needs.

If this levy doesn't pass - the schools will continue to decline. Rooms will get more moldy. More leaks and repairs will come up. Classrooms will continue to fill up and make less and less room for each child. They will have turn other hallways and closets into classrooms.

http://www.voteforces.com

Please, please, please vote yes on this issue! We need you! The kids need you!

When you do vote - you have to vote yes on two things.

1. For the new schools
2. For the upkeep on the new schools and maintenance.

You need to vote yes on both of those issues. One cannot not pass without the other.