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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2017)
OPINION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2017 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Support school bond in may The Hermiston School District is asking voters to approve a school bond to replace 55-year- old Rocky Heights and 37-year- old Highland Hills elementary schools, construct a new elementary school, and make significant upgrades to Sandstone middle school and Hermiston high school. The request is due to aging buildings and se- riously inadequate student capacity. Since 2008, when the last bond passed, the district has grown by more than 600 students. This in- creased student population has been addressed with 34 modular classrooms. How- ever, due to the overcrowd- ed conditions the district recently was forced to cap 10 elementary classrooms, which increased transpor- tation costs to shuttle stu- dents to non-neighborhood schools and caused undue disruption to many fami- lies. A 2014 population pro- jection study by Portland State University predicts 800 additional students by 2023, according to a mid- dle-growth rate scenario. The study forecasts more than 1,250 new students under a high-growth rate. The current student pop- ulation increase is greater than the “high-growth” rate used in the PSU study. If the present-day growth rate continues, the dis- trict’s population will in- crease 24 percent, with more than 1,200 additional students in seven years. Without new construc- tion and renovation, the district will need 56 mod- ular classrooms. However, the use of modular class- rooms does not address subsequent overcrowding of common areas such as cafeterias, gyms, labs, etc., which were planned to support the student populations for which the buildings were intend- ed. The lifetime of these “temporary” classrooms is reduced compared to permanent construction, and maintenance costs are greater. More importantly, the educational environ- ment may be reduced. I strongly urge the vot- ers to consider the current situation, look to the fu- ture, and vote to approve the proposed school bond. For as Thomas Jefferson reportedly said: “An ed- ucated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” GEORGE CLOUGH HERMISTON Support growing school population I am writing to encour- age a yes vote on the up- coming school bond elec- tion in May. Hermiston is the largest and fastest growing city in eastern Or- egon. A recent population study by Portland State University forecasts that the Hermiston School District will continue to increase its student pop- ulation by a total of 800 students by 2023, a short seven years from now. In my opinion, that pre- diction is a modest esti- mate given the greater than expected growth in student enrollment over the last 10 years. (It is my understand- ing that student enrollment has exceeded the estimated student population growth by this same university over the last 10 years.) Our elementary schools are overcrowded now and the District is using mod- ular buildings to make room for our current stu- dents. By replacing Rocky Heights and Highland Hills Elementary Schools and building an additional ele- mentary school, the needs of serving our elementary students can be met. Plus, an addition to the high school will add needed ad- ditional classrooms for our older students. If this bond measure is not passed, our children will still need someplace to go to school if we do not build and remodel. An additional 56 modu- lar classrooms would be needed to make room for these students. The money to purchase or lease these modular classrooms will come from funds intended for the education of these students, thereby short- changing our students’ ed- ucation. I feel the Hermiston community looks forward to growth and is willing to shoulder the challenges that come with that growth. It is said that good schools make for good commu- nities. Please join me in voting for the Hermiston School Bond so we can give our community and our kids the schools they deserve. BONNIE LUISI HERMISTON Alumnus, parent supports school bond As an alumnus of Herm- iston High School and fa- ther to current HHS stu- dents, I urge you to vote yes for the upcoming bond for the Hermiston School District. I was a fourth grade Highland Hills Husky when it opened in 1980. For many of us, 1980 seems not all that long ago. But, if you are a building that houses hundreds of students day after day for that many years you are worn out. Highland Hills Elementary School has now educated my chil- dren, as well. When visit- ing them at school I would find myself comparing the structure to when it was new and to other schools. The building has areas chipping away, the heating and cooling system seems non-existent and obvious- ly inefficient, restrooms are irreparable from use, access for students with physical challenges is dif- ficult, and so on. Now as a parent, when I look at that building I see is a lot of open space and so many doors! In today’s environment, we unfor- tunately look at safety of our children from a much more severe perspective. The old design of Rocky Heights and Highland Hills is not conducive to secure campuses. In a recent safety audit performed by the Hermiston Police De- partment, Highland Hills and Rocky Heights fell well short of meeting cur- rent safety standards, due in large part to their lack of life-safety alert systems and outdated design. Hav- ing a controlled access to the school buildings where students and visitors use centralized entrance/exit is essential to that safety. Driving around town one notices the number of modulars at our schools. Though the school district planned for significant growth when building new buildings, the district’s growth has exceeded those numbers and that space. I am concerned that children walk to different buildings to get to class at a young age or that a high school student must walk into the main building from modu- lars to use the restroom. I encourage you to attend the information- al meetings, ask to visit the buildings, or inves- tigate the website http:// hermiston.k12.or.us/fa- cilities-master-planning/ may-2017-bond-informa- tion to learn about the challenges of the district and how voting “yes” will help Hermiston students. Please vote YES for the Hermiston School District Bond presented on the May ballot. Schools along with ex- panding Hermiston High School. The existing schools pose a unique challenge. The design and layout of the buildings make it easy access for intruders and put our children in harm’s way. Each of the schools has at least 25 doors and give intruders access at multiple points and unless there’s security at each door it makes it extreme- ly difficult to monitor and extremely dangerous for our loved ones. How do you keep track of visitors and/or intrud- ers? While visitors are supposed to sign in at the office how do you keep track of those that would go directly to one of the rooms, it’s next to impos- sible. Our children, teach- ers, staff and adminis- trators deserve to be in a safe learning environ- ment. Endangering their lives because of lack of financial resources is not something that we should gamble on. The security issue should not be left unanswered because we don’t want to spend on the safety of our children. As a long time communi- ty resident I am very con- cerned for the safety of our children. To have new schools built where perhaps there can a place to be used for vetting all visitors before given access to proceed to enter the school would make it much safer for all students, faculty and approved visitors. While there are no absolutes or guarantees we should try to ensure we have done all we can to significantly reduce risks. Ultimately the secu- rity issue exists because we haven’t prioritized the safety of our loved one. Unfortunately, schools are often overwhelmed with conflicting priori- ties such as lack of funds to provide the right num- ber of teachers needed or books or curriculum, etc. However, how do we put a price on our children’s lives? Let’s not be reactive in fixing this problem, let’s be proactive! Let’s vote yes for May 2017 School Bond; VOTE YES FOR KIDS! EDDIE DE LA CRUZ, PRESIDENT & OWNER, SUN- RISE CLEANING AND JANITORIAL SERVICE, HERMISTON Bond will improve school safety have here in Hermiston. One of the many rea- sons we moved here 20 years ago was because of the schools, teachers and community. Over the years our community has risen to the needs of the children. Safety and se- curity at Rocky Heights and Highland Hills ele- mentary schools are two current needs identified by an independent safety au- dit conducted by our own Hermiston Police Depart- ment. The audit found the design, age, and lack of life-safety alert systems at these schools are inad- equate to meet the current safety standards. For these reasons, among a host of other reasons, I hope the school bond is passed. When it comes to safety, can we be too prepared? I’m grateful for the schools and services we JEFF SNELL HERMISTON KNOCK HIDDEN FEES OUT COLD . New Total Plans with no hidden fees. Including Unlimited Data for just $40/mo. – With 4 lines – No Data Overage Charges. No Activation Fees. No Monthly Connection Charges. uscellular.com/nohiddenfees Taxes and certain charges such as RCRF and USF apply. JASON MIDDLETON HERMISTON Vote ‘yes’ for Hermiston kids I write to urge you to support the current $104 million bond proposal to include replacement of Rocky Heights and High- land Hills Elementary Things we want you to know: Total Plan and Retail Installment Contract for Smartphone and basic phone purchases or Customer Service Agreement with a two-year initial term (subject to a pro-rated $150 Early Termination Fee for modems and hotspot devices and a $350 Early Termination Fee for Tablets) required. Credit approval also required. Pricing is per line/per month. A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee (currently $2.02) applies; this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Additional charges, taxes, terms, conditions and coverage areas may apply and vary by plan, service and phone. Auto Pay/Paperless Billing required. 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