Editor:
I believe it is vital that we vote yes on the proposal to renovate South Portland High School.
It’s about education. Much of our high school is over 50 years old. Classrooms are too small and too few. The building’s plumbing, heating and electrical systems are out of date. Teachers run extension cords between classrooms in order to operate basic educational equipment.  Administrators fear the high school may lose its national accreditation – not because our teachers are failing, but because of the failing condition of the facilities.
It’s about safety. Our high school is simply not as safe as it should be. It has asbestos in floors, ceilings and insulation. It does not meet current fire code requirements. There are leaks causing mold. It does not satisfy the Americans With Disabilities Act. It does not meet minimum air quality standards. These are serious health and safety deficiencies that must be remedied.
It’s about the future. Investment in education pays long-lasting dividends throughout our community. The Secondary Schools Facilities Committee has worked diligently over three years to develop a plan for a high school that will last another 50 years. We’ve been “fixing” problems with band-aids for too many years. It’s time to do the job right.
We owe it to the teachers who are struggling to teach in a substandard facility. We owe it to the children of South Portland (and their children). We owe it to our community. Please vote yes on Nov. 6.
Eben Adams
South Portland