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Charlie Schultz: Park County school bond details

Charlie Schultz
Co-Chairman, Facilities Review and Planning Committee
Fairplay

I am responding to Sylvia Gibson’s letter to the Fairplay Flume editor, “Against Re-2 ballot proposal on 3A,” in the Oct. 9 issue. She is correct that there are limitations to the renovations that can be done to the Edith Teter Elementary School because it is historical. But, that only pertains to the exterior. Major renovations can be done to the interior. The school district has entered into a dialogue with the Historical Society regarding renovations.

Mrs. Gibson asked, “What’s wrong with the Midway?” The answer is, “Not much.” The preschool children would be moved into the Midway. This will require some modifications to the rest rooms in each classroom. The Colorado Department of Education’s School Construction Guidelines specify larger rest rooms for preschool children. The plan also calls for a 1,000 square-foot library addition to the Midway and improved acoustics in the cafeteria.

Mrs. Gibson suggests that sports should be left out of it. Most children in the middle school and high school are active in sports. Sports serve important purposes. They improve physical fitness, build teamwork and character, and provide a major incentive for students to keep up their grades. Students with low grades are not allowed to participate in extracurriculars until their grades improve. It works.



Mrs. Gibson asked whether children have been injured in the current drop-off and pick-up areas. The answer is “No.” However, the danger is obvious. Children, buses and cars converge at a single point. The district will not wait until an accident happens to fix the problem. The plan calls for a separation of traffic patterns between buses and cars.

I invite Mrs. Gibson to take a tour with me of the district facilities so she can see the condition of our schools. I welcome her to contact me at (719) 836-7171.


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