Your Opinion: Alumna favors school issue

Dear Editor:

I"m a proud alumna of the Jefferson City Public School system. I currently teach Spanish in Pittsburgh. Before this I taught for six years in Chicago.

I attribute a lot of my success to the opportunities and experiences I had in Jefferson City High School. I'm appreciative of the support I received from educators. I've yet to visit a community that promotes respect for itself like Jay Pride.

It's time to invest in making Jefferson City a better place now and for generations to come. The new high school tax levy/bond needs to pass to ensure that future students understand and benefit from Jay Pride, just as we have before them.

Jefferson City does not need two high schools. What Jefferson City needs is to provide relevant, quality education for all students.

One high school will allow for the community to pool its resources as oppose to dividing them, and provide equity and variety for all students.

Some worry students will be lost in a "mega school." As clearly articulated on www.newjchs.us, the seven smaller academies will assign specific staff members to support a core group of students. This will allow educators to focus on building positive relationships with their students, in addition to understanding and addressing their individual needs.

As an educator, I'm excited to see that JC is opening up to innovative opportunities. The old system of education was developed during industrialism. Just as our economy has moved beyond that, so must our educational system.

I am fortunate to work in a school in Pittsburgh that provides a similar learning environment to which JCHS wants to develop. We integrate English and Social Studies into one class for deeper understanding of context and communication.

Our focus is not in what students know but what students can do with what they know. An internship in a community business is a graduation requirement. These aspects, along with caring, supportive adults, are what prepare our students to be successful in the future.

Here are the facts: JCHS will see an increase in student population. The plan for two high schools would be more expensive than the plan for one. There is not a deep well of education funding.

One new school is an opportunity to maintain JCPS pride while also setting a vital foundation for a vibrant JC community for generations to come.