I am eager to vote Yes! on our upcoming school levy. Only one of my three kids will attend the new elementary school, but investing into all of BG’s kids and, thus, our community, is a top priority for me and my family.
My youngest goes to preschool in the trailers behind Conneaut in the same unit my son had for 4th grade. I wonder if my daughter, who’s in 3rd, will get to experience the same? Clearly our elementary schools no longer provide adequate learning environments, from overcrowding at Conneaut and Crim to disrepair at Conneaut and Kenwood. Education suffers due to the sharing of resources and teachers between all three buildings, stifling hot classrooms (not only in the summer but also throughout the winter because of old heating systems), and a lack of innovative, modern equipment and security.
I also look forward to a greater sense of unity in our town when we will all be BG Bobcats, rather than rivaling elementary schools, precipitating negative stereotypes that prove difficult to outgrow. Additionally, with only three buildings remaining, the idea of neighborhood schools was lost long ago, with district lines eschewing far outside neighborhood parameters. To regain true neighborhood schools, the existing buildings would require total renovation and additional schools would need to be erected and maintained. This is cost prohibitive and impractical. The clear, unifying path forward is to build one community school.
Alleviating current disparities excites me the most. A new, consolidated elementary allows our district’s resources to best help at-risk students by providing the adequate space, atmosphere, teachers, and collaboration needed. The same is true for students who excel academically and require different resources to continue growing their strengths. I’m confident the benefits of a modern, pooled environment will boost our state report card (flawed as that system may be), as demonstrated by our Middle School’s higher marks. When education happens in one building and on one campus, finances, volunteers, teachers, staff, and all other resources can be equitably balanced, better serving all students, districtwide.
Furthermore, Bowling Green’s chamber of commerce endorsed the levy, recognizing that a new elementary will attract businesses and families, both enriching and growing our city while simultaneously diminishing our shared tax burden as time progresses. As the county seat, our new school is a must.
One community school will raise us all up, together.
Amber Windom
Bowling Green
