To the editor:

We are writing to strongly support the proposed levy for the new K-8 building in our district.

We are the presidents of the National Honors Society and Key Club, similar organizations at Salem High School promoting leadership and service above self. Our groups are full of student leaders who serve our community. We will not get the chance to use this new K-8 building ourselves, but we want to leave our school and our city better than what we experienced. What better way is there to serve our community than building a new school?

We went to Buckeye and Reilly. We are the most recent group of voters to actually sit in those classrooms. We love our teachers — but the buildings are past due to be replaced. We can’t miss this chance to build a better school. A new building can foster learning in our youth — especially when students aren’t distracted by deteriorating buildings, unstable temperatures, or the lines waiting for workable bathrooms.

We are writing on behalf of our NHS and Key Club members, but also truly believe we are writing this on behalf of the entire Salem High School body, because we have a voice whereas the elementary students who go to these outdated, suboptimal buildings do not. We have Quaker Pride and are willing to invest for our whole community.

Decongesting the high school building will also help all our students when relocating the middle school. This will reduce traffic in the roads and hallways but also afford some cushion so that if our student body grows we do not have to resort to putting up trailer classrooms

Some of us had to learn in our elementary schools that did not have the physical space needed for all the district’s students, walking outside to our trailer classrooms when Buckeye did not have enough space to house all our elementary students.

We are also student-athletes and we vividly remember the Reilly cornice falling off and smashing the brand-new track. $100k later it was repaired; a visual metaphor for our old buildings costing more money and hurting our attempts to modernize. Despite the price tag, thankfully only the new track was hit — not a fourth grader.

School safety is everyone’s concern. We too watch the news and see what happens in districts across the nation. We can defend one campus built for safety better than three disparate older schools.

We are involved and proud to be involved. Members of Key Club and NHS are involved in all athletics, band, academic challenge, churches, and many other organizations across the county and through the Valley. We see the buildings all our competition go to school in and our current buildings are inferior. We have the chance to change that for future Quakers.

This is a can’t miss opportunity. Canfield is only getting 16% state support for its proposal, Salem has the chance for 67%. If we pass this up we may never get it again. On average it takes at least 10-15 years, and who knows what the building conditions would be like by then. We would quickly grab any other investment opportunity that has a guaranteed match.

The increased cost is small. The average increase in taxes is $9.95/month. That is cheaper than a beef burrito or Netflix subscription.

Later in life, we want to come back and support our city. A new school building for the next generation of Quakers will improve the future of Salem and help entice young families to stay here or return.

We are proud Quakers and recognize how important our schools are to this city and our future. Please join us in our support by voting YES on May 2!

Salem High School NHS / Key Club

Key Club President — Will Madison

NHS President– Jonathan Kidd