Support for new school facilities is support for the community

We moved to new Philadelphia in 2019 from Ontario, Ohio after our oldest child finished first grade.

Having experienced a year in a modern, single-campus facility, I was heartbroken when I first saw the school buildings here. I wondered if we had made the right move. Our previous school had a large library, a technology room, modern classrooms, two playgrounds for different age groups and no modular trailers.

But we liked the community, so we gave it a chance. My fears were unfounded. We absolutely love it here. Every principal and teacher has been outstanding, and my children are receiving a wonderful education. They are now finishing seventh and eighth grades and are involved in steel band, which is a unique opportunity in this area.

One of the things I appreciate most is the generational legacy here. Many families have roots that span four or five generations. That sense of connection is special.

However, familiarity can create a blind spot. When something has always been the same, it is easier to accept it. The reality is the schools have been limping along.

At some point, there will be building closures. Five buildings and nine modular units need new roofs, and no company will patch them anymore. There are also structural, safety and technology concerns. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year on maintenance, but some issues are too costly to fix. As conditions decline, we risk losing both longtime and prospective families to other districts.

When people decide where to live, schools matter. They ask: Is it safe? Is it built for modern education? Does it offer the same opportunities as other districts? Right now, those answers are not where they need to be.

We have enough support, but our search for a perfect plan is dividing us. No plan will satisfy everyone. What one person sees as a drawback, another sees as a benefit. A unified campus with room to expand offers real advantages for students and the community.

I was not a fan of the income tax at first, but I have come to understand it. It allows working residents to contribute while easing the burden on retirees, who no longer pay into it as they once did.

In closing, I ask for help sharing information and building support. I want families to give this community a chance and fall in love with it, just as we did. I want graduates to stay and continue their family traditions. Supporting new school facilities is an investment not only in education, but in the future of the entire community.

Stacie Godfrey

New Philadelphia