‘For’ Lakeside millage
Dear editor:
I am writing to encourage all voters living in the Lakeside School District to vote for our kids by voting for the millage increase in the May 22 election.
As a Lakeside alumna, mother of a Lakeside graduating senior and the executive director of Ali’s A.C.E. Food Pantry & Clothes Closet housed at the Lakeside School District, I know firsthand how desperately this millage increase is needed. The cafeteria facilities for our lower grades have not been significantly updated since my days as a student, which were over 40 years ago! When my daughter participated in the high school musical a few weeks ago, our school auditorium could not house the number of students and parents who showed up to attend, and this happens regularly with concerts and awards ceremonies too — these events end up being “standing room only.” But even more importantly, Lakeside is out of much-needed classroom space because of the huge influx of students within our district.
In fact, our food pantry and clothes closet currently is housed in one of three portable buildings behind Lakeside High School. One of these buildings is being used as a classroom right now, and without the millage increase, more of these buildings will have to be used to house our students.
While A.C.E. is extremely grateful for the space we occupy, the reality is that these portable buildings are not ideal learning environments. They are cramped quarters, totally separated from the main high school building. Everyone must enter and exit them from the outside — during wind, rain or snow, there is no covered connection to the main school building. Bathroom facilities are not available in these buildings — we must go back into the main building for that and for running water.
Furthermore, these buildings are not soundproof, so outside noises from the nearby road and the other buildings are easily heard and can be very distracting. To think that this might be the future home for our hardworking faculty and students simply is not acceptable. They deserve better and we can provide that for them.
Show your support for Lakeside by putting our kids first. Vote for the millage increase on May 22 or in early voting. Kay Fleischner Executive director Ali’s A.C.E. Food Pantry & Clothes Closet