It’s 10 a.m. and I can’t breathe. And if I had an option I wouldn’t because the smell of urine and other things I can’t determine is making me nauseous. Added to this is the fact that it’s over 80 outside so each room I walk into is already 70 and rising. Doors are all opened to the outside and large fans are strategically placed to make sure the nasty smelling air can keep moving.

This sounds like a third world problem, but in fact it is very much our problem. This is what the students and staff at Lake Wilderness Elementary face every day. Unfortunately the above only describes part of the problem.  You may immediately think this is neglect from the district. It is quite the opposite. The maintenance staff is amazing. They are constantly fixing the emergencies that arise daily from a school built in the 1950s. They truly would give anything to be working proactively to prevent emergencies but rarely have time to even think about this. The odors I am confronted with today come from having too many people in a confined space on an 80-degree day. Along with that comes foul-smelling air from ancient bathrooms that is circulated throughout the building by industrial-size fans being used on this hot day in a futile effort to regulate indoor temperatures.

The staff and district also deal with safety issues every single day. I am so scared for the children that attend the school and the safety issues that they encounter daily because of the portables that need to be used. “Portable Hill” as I heard it referred to, is so far from the school this in itself causes some safety concerns for the district. Not to mention the large holes under the portables that a small child could fit in or the critters we would probably prefer to not have access to the areas in which our children need to learn.

As I wandered around the campus I noticed the unbearable heat every where, the nasty water coming out of the sinks, ferns growing out of the gutters and more. As I was talking to some of the staff about their experiences in the building, one of the most proud comments was that they have successfully removed mold from the building. Are you kidding me? This is ridiculous. But don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that LWES no longer has mold, I just wish we could say that about all of our school buildings.

I also noticed all of the crowding and juggling issues our staff has to balance every day. The lunchroom is the P.E. room is the staff meeting room…really? And closets filled with chemicals become testing rooms. What? Can students really test successfully in those settings? Probably not, but what else are the teachers supposed to do when they need a quiet space and that is all that is available?

Regardless of your feelings about the district, its financial choices, taxes and more, our children and staff deserve a safe, healthy and productive environment to spend their days in.  Pride should not come from lack of mold, a well patched roof or correct fan placement. It needs to come from relationships, successful learning and continued awards for a job well done.

When the bond passes in November a citizen advisory committee will be established. If you are concerned about the way the district may spend this money then please take time out of your schedule to be a part of this committee.

Between now and November I encourage our community to share facts, experiences and more to keep this dialogue going. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Call the school district to get correct facts. Attend the school board meetings if you want to talk to the board members. Finally ask questions about how we got to this point. We have a community that has grown extensively with children, our district has accepted them with open arms, but never received additional revenue that is needed to fund the building of new schools. Our district and staff have done their best with what they are given. I do not look forward to the option of year round, multi tract, double shift scheduling. If we think we are already causing stress to our students and staff in these current environments this will make it even worse.

I beg you to get registered to vote. Have your voice heard. And please, vote for our kids and staff. They deserve it!

Megan Sheridan is an unpaid freelance columnist for the Reporter. She can be reached at megansheridan@relylocal.com or 253-223-1593.