In a letter posted to Patch, the Farmington Education Association has expressed support for the FHS Building Project. The original is available at patch.com.
FARMINGTON, CT —
To the Editor:
On behalf of the Farmington Education Association, we are writing to express our unequivocal support of the June 3 referendum in Farmington to build a new Farmington High School facility.
The current building is failing to meet the needs of students, teachers and staff, and the town can not afford to wait any longer to address this problem.
There is little question that education is a top priority for our country, state, and local communities. However, that importance is not always reflected in the quality of educational facilities across our state. Farmington is among the finest public school systems, but unfortunately the current high school facility does reflect that excellence.
Deficiencies among the current facility include non-compliance with ADA standards, a deteriorating and leaky roof system, insufficient space in classrooms and the cafe, failing and outdated mechanical and ventilation systems, and an inefficient layout that results in numerous logistical and security challenges. These issues are so significant that they alone have put us in jeopardy of losing our NEASC accreditation. This is in spite of the incredible work done by our teachers and staff to overcome these issues and continue to provide a high-quality education to our students.
Our school buildings should facilitate learning, not inhibit it. After reviewing six different proposals, the approved design will bring our high school into the 21st century, giving students, teachers, and staff the ability to more effectively fulfill our “Vision of the FHS Global Citizen.” We can no longer kick this can down the road, and it will only become more costly to the town, and to our students, to delay any longer.
We need Farmington residents to demonstrate their support for education by coming out to vote “Yes” in support of the new building on June 3rd.
Now is the time to secure the long-term educational success of the students of Farmington.
James McNamara, President, Farmington Education Association and resident of Farmington
Jeremy Pilver, Vice President, Farmington Education Association