Editor:

What is the magic number?

In response to the nameless entity who put up signs in South Portland
reading “SPHS No $56 million is too much,” what is the magic number?
Has the unspecified group done exhaustive studies of the school
buildings and grounds? Do they know what it costs to renovate Beal Gym
so it is in compliance with federal regulations? Do they have plans for
mandated physical education classes while the gym is closed during
renovations? Perhaps they favor having no high school at all?

This is the tip of the iceberg that is South Portland High School.
Would you send a baby to daycare that doesn’t meet fire codes, has mold
and asbestos and doesn’t meet air quality standards? Would you continue
to patch the roof on your home if the walls weren’t connected to the
floor? Of course not. However, we continue to barely fix an outdated
building. Why force high school students and staff to learn and work in
this environment and deter prospective hires from choosing South
Portland High? It’s time for a school that will last another 50 years
and bring South Portland High School into the 21st Century.

If we fail to invest in our schools, families will leave our city to
populate nearby communities, which have better facilities for educating
their children and teachers will look toward communities that value
education.

Please vote YES for the high school – it will benefit our whole city.

Craig Roberts

South Portland