5.11.06 - Letter to Chronicle Editor (A Creek Runs Through It)
Wednesday, May 10th I attended the Creswell Middle School open house. I was both appalled and impressed by what I saw. I was appalled by the deteriorating conditions of the middle school facilities. I saw the year-round creek that runs below the northwest portion of the building; a portion of the foundation is actually cut away to allow the creek to flow through. That alone says volumes about the water damage that this old building has endured since its construction in 1941.
At the same time I was also amazed and impressed by Principal Shirley Burrus and her staff and students. They are clearly presented with a work and learning environment that has outlived its life, and they have persevered. The science classes cope with electrical systems that cannot handle more than a couple of devices plugged in at a time. The cafeteria staff copes with water damage right above the food serving area.
The Creswell community got its money's worth at CMS. Sixty-five years of students, staff, and administrators have stretched our tax dollars to the maximum. Any attempt at more Band-Aids on this outdated school is throwing good money after bad. It is time for us to invest in a new middle school facility that we can be proud of.
At the same time I was also amazed and impressed by Principal Shirley Burrus and her staff and students. They are clearly presented with a work and learning environment that has outlived its life, and they have persevered. The science classes cope with electrical systems that cannot handle more than a couple of devices plugged in at a time. The cafeteria staff copes with water damage right above the food serving area.
The Creswell community got its money's worth at CMS. Sixty-five years of students, staff, and administrators have stretched our tax dollars to the maximum. Any attempt at more Band-Aids on this outdated school is throwing good money after bad. It is time for us to invest in a new middle school facility that we can be proud of.
