EDITOR:

I'm disappointed in the article in Tuesday's paper, "Forum looks at renovating schools". Never once did the article mention concerns that parents had regarding Physical Education classes for the seventh through ninth grade students. After the presentation, people were concerned about no Physical Education Facility (gym) attached to this renovation. Concerns were spoken about the safety of students first, then the current gym and the sharing of locker rooms.

It had been stated there are 18 hours per week that our current gym can accommodate. The girl's side, the boy's side and the weight room. Three classes of gym at the same tune would mean sharing the locker rooms with seventh through 12th graders. Currently the gym classes are co-ed, all boys or all girls from ninth through 12th grade. At the end of class the students all mingle in the gym together. Should this be a concern for the future seventh and eighth grade students?

Would anyone build a new school and not accommodate the students with a teaching facility for art, music, band/orchestra, physical education, and a cafeteria. The renovation that took place several years ago at the middle school included those classrooms.

Should the school district have to bus students to the middle school for those classes, imagine what the cost would be? Busses, drivers, extra teachers, etc. This would have to be done if you want to keep the seventh, eighth and ninth grades separate from the rest. Shouldn't students have extra-curricular activities at their own school, not be shipped back to the middle school?

If renovation takes place for a school within a school why not give the seventh through ninth graders the same classrooms as all the other students. These are all educational opportunities to learn. This would be a new school for the next 20 years or more, why not do the right thing at this time.

I'm very concerned when the building and grounds committee members can voice their opinion to the superintendent and decide a gym is not necessary. Not one of those members attended the public forum on Oct. 26. Maybe it's time for board members to attend. How do they know what the public's concerns are about this major issue? Why not complete a survey and see what the response shows.

Add an indoor track so the public can take advantage of it like Gladstone did. Michigan is one of the leading states in obesity. This is one reason a gym should accompany the renovation.

I strongly agree that the renovation is necessary. Let's keep the seventh through ninth graders separate for all aspects of education. Let's do what's right for the students.

Sharon Taylor

Escanaba