Dear editor,

I would like to encourage Buchanan voters to vote yes on Feb. 28 for the school bond.

As a Buchanan teacher at Moccasin Elementary School in Buchanan, I see on a daily basis that we are in need of building and technology improvements. I watch my colleagues do a tremendous job of teaching the children in their classes without up-to-date technology or beneficial room conditions.

Imagine what they could do with the improvement the bond would allow?

We are in desperate need of building improvements. With leaky ceilings, few electrical outlets (having extension cords everywhere), boiler problems, outdated technology, small classrooms or classrooms with no walls, it is hard to do our best as professionals.

Yet, the teachers in Buchanan continue to try to give students the best education possible.

There is only so much fixing the existing problems before fixing them does not even work anymore.

Students need room to move safely within a secure building in order to learn. With the school district moving to full-day kindergarten, it will be difficult for Moccasin to fit all the classrooms in the building, let alone have the adequate size for a kindergarten classroom.

The bond will allow the architects to create an early elementary building at Ottawa with large classrooms with natural light and enough storage space for teachers.

Also, the bond will include parking and bus and car drop-off and pick-up areas. The middle school will have classrooms with walls as well as a gym that will allow athletic competitions with adequate amount of bleachers for parents and fans.

I send my son to Buchanan because I know the teachers there. I know how dedicated my colleagues are and see how hard they work to help their students learn every day.

With Michigan allowing schools of choice, we need to give Buchanan the best chance to receive students, like my son, from other districts.

My son is in first grade and reading at almost a second-grade reading level, writing stories and reports, and just loving to learn. This is because of his teacher, Mrs. Denison! The general schools of choice parent does not know what I know about the teachers in Buchanan because I work there. I know more parents would be willing to choose Buchanan with new schools. This would allow us to then show them what we can do and in turn spread the word what amazing schools Buchanan has.

The bond facility members have worked diligently to listen to the public and staff of Buchanan and come up with the best plan to improve our schools. I think they have come up with a great plan!

We need this bond to compete with the school districts in the area and give our children the best possible education.

Without this bond I am afraid what could happen to the wonderful schools in Buchanan.

Please vote yes for the bond on Feb. 28. The community of Buchanan will only benefit from it!

Sincerely,

Melissa Seddon

Parent and teacher who cares

Niles