N'ville plan is best solution

To the Editor:

I have lived in the Neelyville School District my entire life. I was pleased to hear that the District had finally come up with a comprehensive plan that will result in better facilities for all of the kids in the District. However, I have been hearing grumbling from people about the plan to move the children from the Hillview Campus to the Neelyville Campus. I can't believe that anyone in the District who knows the facts and understands the process that created this plan could reasonably oppose it. Of course the perfect solution would be to build new buildings on both campuses. That just isn't financially possible. The existing Hillview property doesn't have sufficient sewer service from its lagoon to serve any additional students, and there is not enough land to build new buildings and expand the lagoon system. Most importantly, the existing buildings on the Hillview Campus are almost entirely metal frame buildings, which cannot be upgraded, and would have to be replaced. This means that the cost of adding square footage at Hillview is significantly more expensive. There are one-third as many students there as compared to the Neelyville campus. The costs don't add up. In addition, the District's last 3 or 4 bond issues have been for improvments at Hillview and all have been defeated. We can't just sit on our hands and wish that the situation was different. The Board has done a good job of analyzing the options and developing a plan that makes sense. We can't override logic with emotion and expect that we will get the best result for our children. The Neelyville School District's proposal to renovate and expand the Neelyville campus and close the Hillview campus is the only logical, responsible and affordable plan to improve district facilities to create a solid learning environment for all of our children.

The bottom line is that moving a majority of students, faculty and equipment to a campus with less room to grow and fundamental site issues just doesn't make sense. The cost of a plan like that would go beyond what the district is allowed to borrow.

Our children deserve better facilities while taxpayers deserve the best plan possible that makes the most sense financially. That's why I urge you to vote yes for Proposition K.I.D.S. on April 3.

Jim and Cindy Hover

Harviell, Mo.