To the editor:

Your newspaper was discussing the ability of the community to de-polarize and come together for a common good. I believe that if the school board would listen to the community about revitalizing our schools and neighborhoods while meeting its assignment for delivery of curriculum, and then were to ask the community to support a bond issue addressing all these critical issues at once, we could come together for the common good.

I have two basic points to make:

1. The DLR proposition to reuse existing elementary schools with a kindergarten- to third-grade and a fourth- to sixth-grades program is a great way to use our existing buildings and create two-section schools in each facility. This option has disappeared from our discussions.

2. Life after consolidation does exist.

Most of us want to support our schools. In terms of a large bond issue, the difference between $5.50 per month and $7.50 per month per taxpayer is negligible. I believe it is easier to sell a larger bond to the general public if we believe we are not wasting our resources (buildings), and that we are revitalizing our aging neighborhoods. The only option given that does this is restructuring the delivery of the curriculum, dividing K-3 from 4-6, as described by DLR. Each school can focus the extra space for resource rooms that fit a smaller age difference, capitalizing on effective presentation.

The truth of the matter is hardly anyone believes any “savings” can or will be achieved by closure.

The delivery of the curriculum and creating healthy social opportunities are critically important. Revitalizing our aging neighborhoods is also important. There is a way to achieve success in these matters utilizing our small schools.

Rudy Conrad,

Lawrence