A community is only as good as its schools

A community is only as good as its schools. Strong schools provide economic benefits for communities including employment, economic opportunities and encouragement for families to move to or remain in a community. T

hey attract businesses, manufacturing, technology companies, etc. with a global footprint that are prepared to move forward in the 21st Century. Forward thinking. Forward moving. I am waiting for the City of New Philadelphia to catch up to the 21st Century.

I am a retired teacher and school counselor. I know what it was like to teach at West Elementary and Welty Middle School in the New Philadelphia City School District in the late 1980s to 2001. We were utilizing modulars back then, before the fire in March 1990. Community members said it was not the right time for a new building or a campus after the fire in 1990. I remember folks asking, “If not now, then when?” I am still waiting.

This retired teacher is voting yes for New Philadelphia Schools.

Karen Izzi Gallagher

New Philadelphia