Jackson School Board

To the editor:Dear Jackson Community Members,The Jackson Grammar School, in operation since 1860, has for the first time in its history, had parts of its facility deemed unsafe by the local fire marshal: the second floor of the school building and the town hall can no longer be occupied by children until the facilities meet current life safety codes. We, the Jackson School Board, ask you to support the district in resolving this issue.Two events over the next three months will prove critical to the school: Jan. 9, a special school district meeting will be held at the town hall to vote to accept the Betty Whitney Trust's gift of over one million dollars to build a community center on the school property.March 19, the Jackson School Board will ask the district to vote to approve funds for renovations to bring the facility up to code. The estimated cost of renovations will be reduced by approximately $500,000, if the Whitney Center gift is accepted.In addition to reducing renovation costs, the Whitney Center will provide music, art, indoor physical education space, as well as community meeting and performance space. This facility, in concert with the renovation, will meet all current unmet state educational mandates. We have worked hard to reassure the community that this building will function primarily as a community center. As a stand alone building, it will not need to be accessed through the main school building. Its driveway access and parking will also be separated from the school. The school will utilize the building two days per week while school is in session.A seven member oversight committee will include only two school officials; the remainder include a selectperson, a Whitney representative, and three selectmen-appointed residents.Plans for the building call for an historically minded barn design.The value of the Whitney Center gift and the smaller renovation return tremendous value to the taxpayers. We believe these two projects represent the most cost effective way to resolve our facility shortcomings, as well as providing community meeting space needs for our town. Both the separate physical plant and the operational model ensure that the non-school community will have majority access and governance.We, the Jackson School Board, unanimously encourage you to support the community and the school by voting to accept the Whitney Trust gift on Jan. 9, at the Town Hall at 7 p.m. Jerry Dougherty, ChairmanJon Edgerly, Vice ChairmanAngus Badger, memberPeter Benson, memberBob Thompson, member