[Vision2020] Why should we close West Park?

[Timothy Rigsby]

Donovan:

Where do you suggest we send the children of the students of the University of Idaho
if MSD decides to close West Park?  Wouldn't closing West Park put even more financial
burden on the students at UI whose children attend West Park?  Even more financial
burden than what this levy will cost each tax payer.  

What about the inconvenience that closing West Park would create for these students 
whose children attend West Park?  I thought you cared about people that suffer from a lower income or live on a fixed income.  Some of the lowest income families in 
town are the ones who live in married student housing or have children that 
attend school while they pursue either undergrad or graduate degrees at UI.  

Plus, look at the diverse makeup of West Park elementary.  There is more diversity
in that school per capita compared to any other school or institution in town.  If we
close West Park and shuffle some of these kids around to other schools, we may lose the
valuable diversity that has been created at West Park due to the high number of
exchange students whose children attend that school.  The type of diversity at West 
Park can only promote healthy relationships and respect for others differences.  Think
of the world peace that could be created by utilizing the diverse spread of people at
a place like West Park.

Have you noticed the cost of gas these days?  $2.47 per gallon at the Conoco up the
road.  If we close West Park, the parents may have to drive to pick up their children
from school instead of walk from class to West Park and then onto home.  Not only will
they be spending more money on fuel, but think of the extra emissions that would be
emitted because of the extra cars on the road.  

I suspect that the financial impact of closing West Park would outweigh the monies
earmarked for the renovation of West Park.  However, I could be wrong.

So tell me again why you think we should close West Park.

Tim (A new AmeriCorps member) Rigsby