Reader: Not a question of whether but how schools must grow

I am writing in regards to the 2013 Royal School District construction bond proposal. As an emergency substitute teacher for the district, as well as a concerned parent and community member, I have had many opportunities to see first hand how our schools operate on a daily basis.

I have taken the time to call the district office and school board members to ask questions and voice my concerns. I encourage you to do the same.

Here are some of the things I have learned and observed:

The 2013 bond proposal is minimal compared to the previous bond proposals, and the main idea is to alleviate overcrowding in hallways and lunchrooms.

Lunch at Red Rock Elementary starts at 10:45 am with the kindergarten classes and ends with the 5th grade classes starting their lunch at 12 noon.

In between classes and after lunchtime at the Middle School, the hallways are very crowded with students from one side of the hall to the other, including those students trying to gain access to their lockers.

What you see in the bond proposal is what you will get if approved. There are no hidden agendas in regards to how the money is going to be used.

The bond resolution language is what holds the district accountable. This resolution outlines the projects to be completed with the bond monies, and therefore, the district is required to adhere to it.

With that being said, the rumor about any leftover money being used to upgrade the administration building is false.

If the bond is approved, the new intermediate school will house grades 4-6. They will have their own full cooking kitchen and a multipurpose gymnasium. This will alleviate overcrowding in Red Rock (K-6) and the middle school (7-8).

If you have any questions regarding the 2013 bond proposal, here are the resources I encourage you to utilize: Supt. Rose Search, business manager David Andra, school board members, facilities planning committee (block parties) and the School District Website.

Regardless of events that have taken place in the past or decisions that were made that you may not have approved of, it is time to put the past behind us and move forward.

It is no longer a question of "do we want to expand our schools?", but "how do we need to expand?" Our children deserve the best possible learning environment and passing this bond will help do that.

Michelle Miller

Royal School District