Alternative school graduate wants school to stay open

MOSES LAKE - This letter is in regard to the proposition of the Columbia Basin Secondary School (CBSS) possibly being used as another "regular" high school.

I am a former student of CBSS, and I feel that if this proposal goes through, it will be a mistake that should not have had to happen. If the Moses Lake School District turns CBSS into another "regular" high school, it is a big mistake. Though they may feel it's the best thing for the student, I guarantee you that it's not.

I make these predictions:

1.) That half the student population if not more will drop out. There will not be enough assistance to help students who have a harder time understanding assignments;

2.) It's not the cure to solve the high school overcrowding;

3.) It will cause more damage than good to the students;

4.) The whole town knows that location on Patton Boulevard as the secondary school and know that it's the school where you can actually get the help you need to understand assignments.

5.) To make the classes earlier, longer, and all year round is not a good idea either; that will make the drop out rate even higher. Some students who have a part time job after school could get fired, on top of that, it would not give them a life outside of school to be with friends or family.

Another idea, is to put 6th graders back in the elementary schools and then 9th graders back at the junior highs. My friend and I think it would help with the overcrowding for the fact we have more elementary schools that have the space for an extra grade, and then the kids would be with their proper age levels. We both feel that the 6th graders are not quite mature enough to be in middle school, and 9th graders really are not ready for high school either. We have both come to this as another outlet besides building another "regular" high school. We have also thought of the option of the 6th and 9th grader switch over that could possibly be started within the next school year or two.

At MLHS, I wouldn't have been in the top 5 in my graduating year as I was at CBSS if I didn't get the break down of assignments like I did. I graduated in the top 5 and with an average 3.5 G.P.A for the whole year. I can remember being at MLHS my freshman year, in science class, and would hardly receive the help I needed to do well. My grade for that class was a failing grade. After transferring to CBSS, I had Mrs. Crevisten for biology, and was passing her class with a B+ average due to the fact that she would help me and the other students into figuring out what we were to do with our work.

I never got the help I needed when I went to the "regular" high school. I got the help I needed when I went to the secondary school. It's not morally right to change what does not need to be changed. It is hurting the future not helping it. I know this for a fact that if there wasn't a secondary school to go to I would have dropped out and gotten my G.E.D. and been stuck at a burger place flipping burgers, which is one place I don't really want to work at.

In closing to all MLSD members, please consider the potential harm you may be doing to the students that currently attend CBSS. Do you really want a child to be "left behind" by converting the CBSS building to a "regular" high school building? Do you really want the possibility of losing the 4-A sports status and competitiveness that goes with it? Don't let a child get "left behind."

Kyndra Wright graduated from Columbia Basin Secondary School in 2006. She now works at Home Depot in Moses Lake.