Don’t penalize pupils

As the school board president of the Pulaski County Special School District, I feel it is important to respond to the letter from Mr. Ernest Hesterly. He admits the millage extension to expand Sylvan Hills High School is a worthy proposal, the school needs it, and the students need it. His only issue is that the request is being held at a special election instead of a general election. The next general election will not be until November 2018.

In December, the overcrowding at Sylvan Hills was one of the first concerns presented by the administration to the newly seated school board. If the board had chosen to wait another 18 months to begin the process of expanding the high school, we would be seriously neglecting the needs of the students and delaying the opening of an expanded school by almost two years. The board believes the needs of the students are our priority and time is critical.

The existing campus was built for 850 students and at this time the school population is just under 1,500 students. To relieve some of the overcrowding, ninth-grade students have been temporarily moved to another facility. This is a stop-gap measure. Even this stop-gap measure has not solved the problem because we still have 1,200 students in a school meant for 850. The kitchen is small, and the cafeteria only seats 400, so at the three lunch shifts, students must spill over into classes to eat. Classrooms are crowded, halls are crowded, and supervision is more difficult when you cram too many students into a space that is too small. Do you really want to penalize students to protest a special election? I hope not.

The district is planning to build a school to educate 2,200 students to accommodate continued growth. I hope the public agrees with the decision to put the needs of students first. This will not be an increase in your tax rate. Please, vote for our students Tuesday by voting for the millage extension. LINDA REMELE

Sherwood