As a concerned parent of Richland Township, one who strives to teach temperance and diversity to my three children (ranging in age from 17 to 3), I feel it necessary to share my voice as your editorial published in the Feb. 5 Herald Bulletin attacked what you believe the people of this Madison County School Alliance have formed to do and why.

Your article states that this group has formed because parents are angered that their children would have to attend a centralized Anderson High School based on the current ACS plan and not be able to graduate from their prided Highland High School. I wish to request that you retract that statement based on the lack of fact behind it. This proposed plan to separate ACS into two school systems goes far deeper than school mascots. It is about wanting to form a school system where our children could attend school closer to home with smaller class rooms that can focus on the educational needs of our children. Our emotions are channeled toward the desire to create a stable school system within our townships that will effectively and efficiently offer students a quality education in pursuit of academic excellence” and not the sheltering of diversity by removing them from the Anderson Community School system.

ACS’s idea of “fixing” our very broken school system is by closing and centralizing the schools. Trying to find answers by busing our children miles away from their homes, increasing classroom sizes beyond a size for a positive educational atmosphere (not to mention, the friction that will cause for the ACS teacher’s union), in addition to making “necessary” cuts to programs our schools have prided themselves in for generations. We have been told, “Everything is on the table” for financial review and budget cuts: Sports, music, PE, and now possibly the AP classes could be cut. Even jobs could be lost, putting more of a financial burden on our already struggling economy and families of Anderson. Families who send their children to the schools and who may not only be facing job loss at home but more financial burden for our children to attend public schools. The ACS board president, P.T. Morgan, was quoted by WTHR, Channel 13, on Jan. 12 as saying, “voters could be asked on the ballot if they’ll pay more for education and athletes may have to pay to play, plus more cuts.” It is unfortunate that it could be about who has money to participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities because those less fortunate financially won’t be able to pay for their child’s participation. How is that sending the right message to any child about diversity?

MCSA is a group from Union and Richland townships: parents, grandparents and neighbors; genuinely concerned citizens who are joining together to make sound, long-term decisions for the children in our community. Why does this have to be about just what is “good for the kids in Richland and Union Townships”? Why can’t everyone see this is better for all of the children in the current ACS system? Why can’t it be noticed that this reorganization will create jobs lost by the budget cuts of ACS? Why can’t it be understood that this new school system isn’t just taking buildings but debt with those buildings? One building is scheduled to close and the operating costs will drop drastically. The current Killbuck Elementary School cannot be just shut- down, lights turned- out, windows boarded up and doors locked.

I urge the editorial staff at The Herald Bulletin to set a better example of explaining what diversity and school spirit is to the children of Anderson and Madison County. Let us join together as a community and see the great advantages to all of our children by re-organizing the school system and creating positive educational atmospheres for the future of our great city of Anderson.

Rhonda Ballard-Gottschammer, Anderson