LETTER TO THE EDITOR: ‘Once-in-a-generation opportunity’ for Johnston’s schools

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Education is the fundamental building block for society. Not just reading, writing and math, but also art, vocational and technical studies are all crucial for children to learn, grow, gain practical experience and set the foundation for a successful life and career, no matter where their individual path takes them.

We, here in Johnston, have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide our children with the schools they deserve. 

Thornton was built 1921 when the town’s population was 6,855 (it is now 30,000 today).  Graniteville was built in 1930, almost a decade before the start of World War II. Brown Avenue was built in 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression.  Winsor Hill and Barnes schools were constructed in 1953, the first year of the Eisenhower Presidency.

These examples not only help illustrate how old these schools actually are but also just how much society and our town has changed since their construction. Students and teachers are doing the best they can in these 70 to 100-year-old buildings, but it is impractical to expect them to reach their full potential within them.

Rather than put new money in almost century-old buildings, the best path forward is to build new schools not only for the children of today, but also for the children of the future. 

With the town’s successful new business growth over the past two decades, it’s time to use that revenue from these businesses and invest it back into our community.

Even if you do not have children in the school system the correlation between schools and property values is undeniable — better schools equate to increased property values.

Additionally, Ferri Middle School and Johnston High School will be reconditioned to “like new” facilities, providing important vocational and technical pathways for children. Very rarely does an opportunity present itself to reconstruct an entire community’s school system.

This is a plan that positively impacts not just every school age child, from pre-K through grade 12, but also every resident of our town.

With generous school construction reimbursement rates, the time to act is now. On Tuesday, April 5, our town will take perhaps the most important vote in its history — the school construction bond. I would urge everyone to come out and support this proposal and vote yes on the school construction bond.

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