In regard to the meeting two weeks ago, I must applaud the decision of the facilities committee. Considering the recent disaster this community has faced and adding to that the poor economic condition, I think it took a lot of courage to insist upon a new elementary and middle school. While there will surely be a great deal of concerns, mainly of the property tax variety, I think it’s important to realize what’s at stake … the education of the children in this community. While Arcadians’ wallets may be dealt a huge blow if this process moves forward, ultimately, those kids are the ones who will be affected most by the final decision.
Though money always seems to come up as a concern when a construction project of this magnitude is being discussed (to be truthful, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a time when funding was not an issue), at some point in the future, a new building will have to be constructed. And If you look at the economy, barring another major downswing in the market, things never tend to get cheaper. Let’s be honest … an increase in property taxes will never be something people will welcome with open arms. But, a lot can change in just a few years. If it were the pleasure of the committee and school board to wait five or so years to move forward with a new facility, when it absolutely, positively needs to be built, chances are it will cost even more.
Given that construction companies are practically begging for work these days, it’s more likely that, if the project were bid out sooner rather than later, the cost will be significantly less. And then, when you take into consideration the value of the children and the fact that their futures hinge on the education they receive right now, one would think cost would be a non-issue. Making sure those kids are in a conducive learning environment should be job one. A noisy building that was initially built 90 some years ago, has an unreliable heating system and consists of rooms that can no longer contain modern class sizes, is a far cry from conducive.
When I was in elementary school, the building I attended classes in left quite a bit to be desired. While not necessarily unusable, it was, without a doubt, in need of some serious upgrades. Handicap accessibility was lacking, it was unbelievably cold and drafty during the winter months, what with a faulty heating system, and security was minimal … I mean, how secure could a building constructed almost a century prior possibly be? And while there’s no doubt that teaching methods and the material are two crucial factors in a child’s academic success, I would have to argue that environment is just as important, if not more so. Let me tell you, listening to the clanging and banging of pipes every time the furnace kicked in during the winter months was a huge distraction, especially while attempting to comprehend long division or trying to read “Lord of the Flies” – as if those weren’t challenging enough as it was.
When you take into consideration the effects that learning environment has on students, it makes perfect sense to somehow find the funds for a new facility, regardless of the cost. While I’m not a parent and I don’t pay property taxes in Arcadia just yet, I know that a child’s education is priceless and monetary constraints of any kind should not be placed on the future leaders of this country. Sure, there’s a lot of time before anything is set in stone regarding this project, but this is merely food for thought ... something to have in the back of your minds when and if this issue comes to referendum.
Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader
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