I am 80 years old and as I grew up an older generation always provided for an up-to-date school facility and good teachers for my education. I was prepared for college in 1957 and the type of job market that existed at that time. I want to be one of the older generation today that provides buildings and teachers and technology for the jobs our youth will need to train for, the job market for their times into the future.
We have all had to update our lives. We all have air conditioned cars, farmers now operate tractors with GPS systems and air conditioned cabs, many of today’s employees work in air conditioned spaces, some so cold that customers carry light jackets into the stores. And as adults, we don’t want to give up these advances. Yet our youngest sit in classrooms on days in the high 80’s and 90’s. Little learning goes on those days and what they are learning is far different than in my youth.
We simply have to do better. Teachers must be able to collaborate with each other, not to be separated by miles. Classroom size and teacher utilization must be localized. Classrooms should be temperature comfortable.
As it now stands, Eastwood elementary (#72 of Ohio’s 1676 schools) ranks ahead of BG as does Elmwood (#316 of 1676) and Conneaut Elementary comes in third (#385 of 1676). Otsego elementary outranks Kenwood and Northwood elementary (#995 of 1676) outranks Crim (#1134 of 1676). Those four districts all have air conditioned elementaries.
And we no longer have neighborhood school: a school that is sized appropriately (Conneaut is overpopulated with two modules brought in) which in turn drives its geographical scope. Overpopulated schools should require new buildings. And Ridge, South Main, Milton, and Liberty have no neighborhood school! Kenwood qualifies 38 students within a mile; 25 walk/bike on a nice day. Crim qualifies 101, but only 32 walk/bike on a good day. Conneaut qualifies 105 and about 60 walk/bike on a nice day. We no longer have neighborhood schools in BG.
Some simply cannot afford the additional tax. Otherwise, I urge you to consider the kind of 21st century schools our students need for the technological age they are entering.
Let your vote speak for the needs of our children.
Gary Jones
Bowling Green
