Protect the children of South Adams (04/20/07)

To the editor:

Our children's safety depends on building new South Adams Elementary and Middle Schools.

It doesn't take a village to raise our children, but it does take a village to ensure that our children are safe in their learning environment. I realize that we're entering tough times with our economy as we work to cover the cost of gas prices, food, produce increases, cable rates and so forth, but there is a time when the safety of our children should be our main concern.

In the South Adams school district the time is now! It is time to stand up and take care of our kids! Who else will?

The South Adams elementary and middle schools are lacking sprinkler systems and are fire hazards. Many lives could be lost if a fire erupted.

The South Adams Middle school in Geneva literally has mold growing on the walls of the classrooms and parents complain that children with allergies are getting sick.

The wiring and heating units are past bandaging in the schools, ceiling tiles are falling down, roofs are leaking and the buildings are old and unsafe. The health and safety of our children are being jeopardized and cannot be jeopardized.

We can't just sit back and let the progress of building a new elementary and middle school in the SA school district halt because of people with misinformation about property taxes and an Olympic-size pool that is not going to exist.

Our children are going to be the future leaders of the Berne and Geneva communities, and they rely on us to keep them safe while they are educated. It is time that we all stand up and say that it is wrong to let our children down. It is time that we petition for new learning facilities that bring integrity and safety. The children of South Adams Elementary and South Adams Middle School need our voice.

Kurt and Angela Frank

Berne

Thanks

To the editor:

I am a long time school bus driver here in Jay County. It is a very difficult job at times (about 20 percent) and personally rewarding most of the other times.

I have on occasion been treated with disrespect by other motorists because of their impatience in having to wait for a school bus. There isn't anyone who desires to be delayed by a school bus.

There have been some very tense and dangerous moments for me while driving my daily routes. These moments are not limited to me, as most of the other bus drivers also have similar daily experiences.

But all is not lost. One of the things that we appreciate and look forward to each day is the friendly waves and smiles from the traffic controllers and crossing guards that we encounter as they do their jobs at the high school and elementary schools throughout the county.

I come in contact on a daily basis with the following people at the high school: Rotch Shope, Allen French, Shannon Kaufman, Debbie Brinkerhoff, Rodney Bye, Steve Shaver and Russell Sloan. At Westlawn Elementary, it is Connie Frye.

Without these dedicated and at times fearless individuals, our jobs as drivers would be much more difficult. So I would like to publicly thank them, while telling them how very much they are appreciated.

I am sure all the school bus drivers feel as I do.

Thank you for making our job easier.

Thank you and God Bless each one of you.

Mary Botts (Bus No. 1)

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