To the editor:

Thinking outside the box is truly required of our community at this time. I would like to cordially suggest a possible solution for part of our school district’s needs.

1. Send all ninth-graders to the two high schools. It is where they need to be, academically, athletically, and for extra-curricular activities.

2. Close/tear down South Junior High and send all its seventh- and eighth-graders to the three remaining junior highs, which will have room for them with the ninth-graders gone.

3. Save the land for a district athletic facility to be created at a later time when economic conditions are more favorable.

I realize this solution will not be popular with many people, but it would save approximately $21 million of the bond issue and eliminate a building that has been described as completely unsuitable. It would also reduce administrative costs (one less principal, janitors, etc.) Hard times call for hard choices. Are you ready to think outside the box Lawrence?

Mary Ann Ring,

Lawrence