Vote yes for Torrington schools project

I am a 1990 graduate of Torrington High School and a parent of students in Torrington schools, and I am writing in support of the THS building project.

For years, we have done what we can with the very small budget we are provided. While our teachers have continued to do more with less year after year, the time has finally come to replace the high school building, which was built in 1963. Please keep in mind that the windows, kitchen, bathrooms, counters and cabinetry and more are original to the building making them 57 years old. We are losing money heating the school due to the poor shape of the windows and the lack of efficiency updates. Making only the necessary heating, plumbing and mechanical systems safe, eliminate environmental hazards, and make our school accessible and safe would cost our district $112 million. Those repairs are not optional. The reimbursement from the state is less for repairs than it is for building a new school.

If we build a brand-new school, with different career pathways, improved athletic fields, better theater and music facilities, and technology and space for 21st century learning, we will save our city four million dollars! We have an award-winning music program; they deserve to have the space needed to house the programs. Many students leave THS and further their education at prestigious universities but many go into the work force. It would be fabulous if we could prepare our students for their futures no matter what they would like to pursue.

Combining 7th through 12th grade into two separate schools located in one large building and one campus makes the best use of our resources going forward, and creates a school our whole community can be part of. The hope is that by improving educational offerings and aesthetics, parents will choose to send their children to THS instead of sending their children to out of district schools that offer programs that our high school currently lacks. This change will also offer programs to middle schoolers that perform on a higher level by allowing them to partake in a better variety of classes that better meet their needs.

Please support our students and our city by voting yes for the THS building project in the November 3rd referendum.

Rachel Harrel, Torrington