Medicine doesn’t have to be bitter

To the editor:

I am writing in response to the possible closing yet again, of Pennville Elementary School.

I am ever so saddened and tired of fighting to keep our kids where they belong — in school in their very own hometown. Our children feel a true sense of belonging to Pennville and are Bulldog proud.

There are many people in this community who are willing to work together with the school board to come up with a better solution for our schools. One person in particular who has developed a solid plan is Joe Vinson. His plan will not only save an elementary school in each community which currently has one, but it is projected to save upwards of $1.4 million in the first year. Joe’s plan, or “The Save Our Schools Plan,” should be adopted to improve the fiscal health of our school district.

We have a community of voters who elected a school board, expecting as they say “they are for the kids and what is best for them” to do exactly that. Pennville is a community that is very upset at the idea of any schools closing, let alone it starting with Pennville.

In the Feb. 21 issue of The CR, superintendent Jeremy Gulley says “the fiscal health of our district is poor” and likened the remedy to two pills — the first pill needing choked down would be the closing of Pennville School. He goes on to say “I expect the second pill will be bitter. Probably more bitter than the first.”

Our community needs to know that the closing of our community schools will just begin the shutdown. Redkey and Dunkirk best be prepared for their closings too as it won’t be long in the coming. And at what cost?

Closing these schools will certainly cause our communities to die if history proves itself again. We need to look at our communities as a whole — not just look at the Portland side of things. Oh and speaking of — what’s to become of our county seat when the community decides to take their children outside of Jay County, which many families are considering. Not only is the county at risk of losing children to Southern Wells, but Dunkirk and Redkey may very well take their children to Albany, as one Dunkirk mother of seven told me she is considering if they close her elementary.

The problems arising from closing our schools can be numerous. The unnecessary need of children being bused for up to an hour each way leaves less time for play, something that children should be allowed to have. It takes away family time, which needs to be cherished with our children. It makes it harder for children to participate in after school play practice and the like.

The decision to have our (Pennville) children play basketball at another gym is also a sad shame. Allow us to host our own games again.

Closing schools will also lower our property values and cause some of our businesses to leave.

Shouldn’t we all have the same ultimate goals, to provide a quality education for every student without having to make the child and parent sacrifice family time for a few dollars worth of savings, which will not even fix the major problem.

Why not work with us, rather than following the idea that the closing of Pennville Elementary will fix our budget deficit? I just don’t get it — a plan has been laid out — it is a good plan, one that will keep our youngest kids in their very own home towns. Won’t our community please reach out to our school board and insist that they adopt it? A savings of $1.4 million … wow.

That’s some sweet medicine. Thats what our community needs, not a bitter old pill.

Sincerely,

Carolynn Geesaman

Pennville