Dear Editor:
I am a proud 2002 graduate of Jefferson City High School. Eight years ago, I returned to my hometown as a teacher. I am fortunate to work with a great group of dedicated, innovative, and creative teachers at Simonsen Ninth Grade Center. We are working tirelessly to deliver rigorous and relevant 21st Century instruction to our students every day, but it is difficult to be an innovative educator in an overcrowded 103-year-old building.
Due to overcrowding, we have stop-and-go traffic in the hallways during passing time. We have too few classrooms, causing some teachers to share rooms and some students to learn in hallways. Simonsen's outdated HVAC system frequently forces us to endure uncomfortable temperatures, and many classrooms have windows that will not open. The facility that felt crowded and outdated when I was a freshman 18 years ago is the same facility that we use today.
We have talked about the need for a second high school in Jefferson City for many years. Without a second high school, we must face the reality of our freshmen students learning in trailers located on the football field down the hill and across a public street from Simonsen. On April 4, the great people of Jefferson City have the opportunity to decide that our kids and our community deserve better than this by voting to support the construction of a second high school and the total renovation of the current high school.
Two "yes" votes show that you support generations of children who will become the adults with whom we share our community. Two "yes" votes show that you support the teachers and staff who work hard to educate our children. Two "yes" votes show that you understand, even if your kids do not attend JCPS or have already graduated, that we all benefit from an educated society. Two "yes" votes show that you care about your own property value and want to protect that investment by helping to see our community thrive and grow.
For these reasons I am voting "yes" on Proposition J and "yes" on Proposition C, and I urge you to do the same.
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