Has there ever been a time when so many appeals were being made for private money for so many worthy causes? Almost every day, there are new campaigns to raise private funds to support a wide range of programs, as well as intensified efforts to secure city, state and federal funding for a wide range of proposals to build something new or remodel an outdated facility.

Most proposed projects are good and, if money was not an issue, the vast majority of people would be enthusiastic in their support. However, money is an issue, in fact a big issue and, consequently, individuals, members of public boards, educators and elected officials all have to weigh the merits of the ever-increasing appeals for money and decide which programs and activities deserve support.

Supporters of some projects seek relatively small amounts of money for projects such as buying uniforms and equipment for public school programs that have been cut because of tight school budgets. Some projects, such as buying a warm coat for someone who doesn’t have a coat or contributing to the United Way, are easy to support. Other projects are seeking millions of dollars with private money paying a good share of the cost.

Here in Lawrence, there is a never-ending need for private financial support, and the level of generosity by so many people has played a major role in helping make Lawrence the city it is today.

School board officials have announced plans to propose a bond issue totaling approximately $54 million. Included in the package are new classrooms at a number of schools, a couple of new gyms, new science rooms, new technical labs for welding and auto mechanics, and a plan to tear down and replace South Junior High School. This last project is estimated to cost $32 million.

It is understood the major reason school officials think this relatively new school, which opened in 1968, should be razed is that its design doesn’t provide a proper learning environment, there are too few windows and an inadequate air system. Remodeling the school and dealing with asbestos issues would be extremely costly and time-consuming, creating a problem of what to do with South students during the remodeling and renovation project.

This all sounds reasonable, but it is a shame taxpayers now are being asked to finance such a large project primarily because the local school board and school officials in the 1960s bought into the ill-conceived new concept of open classrooms built in a circular pod configuration. At the time, there were many who questioned this plan, but school officials elected to go with the pie-chart layout with few windows and poor sight lines to supervise hallways and entrances.

The school building is not old compared with Pinckney, Central Junior High and some other local schools. In fact, it is interesting Central Junior High still serves as an effective school even though it was built many years before South’s opening. Many might wonder whether attention needs to be given to the teaching environment and facilities in this older school before tearing down and rebuilding South Junior High.

As noted above, money is an issue. All of the proposals included in the school bond proposal would help provide a better physical plant for the Lawrence school system and improve the educational environment for the students. There probably are at least $54 million in other school district needs that don’t rate as high on the priority list as those included in the current bond proposal. If money wasn’t an issue, Lawrence voters would be quick to give their OK to the even larger project.

Something ought to be learned from the South Junior High matter, however, and that is school board members and school officials should be careful when buying into an untraditional architectural plan. Something might sound and look great and be viewed as on the forefront of new developments and innovations in school design. But, as one knowledgeable observer once told this writer, people in all lines of business should remember that most scouts and pioneers, those out front trying to find a new way west in the early history of this country, usually ended up with a rear end full of arrows.

It turns out the design of South Junior High School may have sounded exciting and new at the time, but it wasn’t long after the school opened that parents, students and some teachers began to wonder just what the city had bought. The city and its taxpayers ended up with a rear end full of arrows.

When money is so scarce for so many worthy projects, it is hoped those making the decisions will use the utmost attention and care in how public money is spent.

Although their intentions are good, school officials in the early 1960s made a decision in the case of South Junior High that now will cost Lawrence residents many additional dollars to fix.