Speak up for our Preschool Children!

Without taxpayers' knowledge, on January 6th - Harrisonburg City School Board forwarded a motion to request funding from City Council to build a new elementary school on Garber's Church Rd AND build a 350 capacity preschool, a sidewalk apart (based on conceptual drawings) from THMS.

January 7, I, Nina Hurst, and others, became aware of this decision. The plan is to wedge the preschool between the south end of THMS and into Wyndham Woods properties, including my own. As we (WW residents) had no knowledge of this plan, it came as a shock. It was distressing, as it would be for any homeowner.

"Why would you choose to build a preschool next to a middle school?"

After viewing the Jan 6, School Board meeting and review of VMDO Architects' PPT presentation I learned that 7 properties were considered - 6 elementary schools (including Garber's Church) and THMS. VMDO Architects recommended - either Smithland Elementary or THMS as the best sites to build the preschool. VMDO said both were equally viable. (See comparison points on facebook page.) After researching each - I found that Smithland is equal to, if not a better location for the preschool, then THMS.

Concerns for my property became secondary, overshadowed by my concern for the children who would attend the preschool - I learned that 3, 4, 5 year olds would be in such close proximity to 6th, 7th, 8th graders which is a safety risk. I question the wisdom of placing 350 preschoolers together.

As grandmother of a toddler, I would never want my granddaughter packed in w/ 350 children, a sidewalk apart from a middle school. A preschool of this size is "uncharted territory" as one SB member stated. No public preschools of this size are in VA, and it is hard to find any across the US. Is there going to be an impact on the child's development in this environment? As this is so unique, School Board can't know.

This is a safety risk for our preschool children, to be so close to the THMS building or anywhere on the property. I have had children in the Harrisonburg City Schools - from preschool to high school graduation - for 28 consecutive years. Over these 3 decades, I am well aware of cases when younger children have been hurt or victimized by older children. Despite the potential risks, I don't understand why the School Board would want to place these preschoolers on to the THMS property even though there is a better and safer choice. Smithland and Skyline Middle School do share the same property, however, Smithland Elementary separates the preschool from the middle school.

Why is the School Board pushing so hard to build the preschool at THMS, when the Smithland Elementary site is a better and safer location - based on facts - it seems clear! I've done my research, I have reviewed the same data as presented to the School Board by VMDO Architects.

This petition and Your Choice. Your Voice. Harrisonburg Facebook page is about:

1) Speaking up for the welfare of our children who can't speak for themselves.
2) Halting the School Board from making a decision, without taxpayers knowledge or input.
3) Persuading the School Board to choose a safer location to build a preschool for our children.