What great points:
I'm writing you today out of great concern regarding the BHS situation. The need for a new school, not a repaired one, is becoming more evident with every new piece of information regarding the building on Prices Fork Rd. As repair costs continue to escalate, the folly of putting any more of the taxpayers precious dollars into old BHS is clear. The answer is not in challenging the town building/safety inspector to lower her standards regarding the minimal code requirements for a school which will house 1177 of our children. The answer is not to accuse legitimately concerned parents of being 'bullies' for using the same constitutionally protected, nonviolent methods of free speech and discretionary spending power that liberated this country from segregationist policies and brought about the Civil Rights Amendment. The answer is to provide long overdue, safe, and appropriately sized facilities for our children in Blacksburg and Riner. Mr. Creed's comments questioning the need for a sprinkler system at BHS were astounding. Instead of using this question as an argument to lower Montgomery County's school system to the lowest common denominator, we need to question why it has ever been acceptable to house children in facilities with inadequate fire control/safety systems. Mr. Brown commented on the county's future need to purchase 10 new fire trucks, but is questioning the need for sprinklers in schools!
Blacksburg parents are being portrayed as spoiled, rich folks who simply want a new school for their kids. In fact, the median household income for Blacksburg, Va in 2008 according to city-data.com was $29,264 versus the median income in Virgina of $61,233. Blacksburg parents are perceived as 'complainers', when in fact we have quietly endured a building that was constructed with criminal negligence, the extent of which is just now being uncovered. Montgomery County was the victim of this criminal negligence many years ago. Our innocent children and the faculty and staff of BHS have endured the consequences for over 30 years. The substandard conditions over those years are finally being compiled and presented publicly in testimony before your board. As Montgomery County citizens we all, affluent and poor alike, deserve safe, appropriate facilities for our children's education. We're not asking for a 'Taj Mahal'. We are asking for a facility that will not collapse on the student body, will protect our children at legal standards from emergencies such as fire, and provides disabled students facilities as required by ADA standards.
Please consider the best interest of our entire county, and vote in favor of a new BHS, a new AHS, and a renovated AMS.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Garnett-Deakin
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