EDITOR'S NOTE: Kelly Kroll, an East Ridge parent, said her two children, Callan and Kendall, wrote the letters below after last week's Hamilton County Commission meeting about proposed school building projects. Both children attend CSLA, a magnet school which was among the schools considered for building additions or replacement. As has happened before, CSLA did not make the final cut.
Ms. Kroll said her children will attend the County Commission meeting Wednesday when a vote on County Mayor Jim Coppinger's recommendations is expected.
"They hope Mayor Coppinger can explain to them in person why their school, one of the best in the nation, will continue to fall apart around them despite 20-plus years of promises by the county for a new building," Ms. Kroll said.
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Dear Mayor Coppinger,
My name is Callan Kroll. I am in 6th grade at CSLA. I have been in the school ever since kindergarten.
My mom is a nurse and my dad does construction/carpentry work. Neither of them could afford to send my sister and I to private schools, but they wanted the best education for us. In 2006, my mom researched the best public schools in the county and found CSLA. She fell in love with it. To get my sister and I in the school, she and my dad spent seven days and seven nights on a sidewalk downtown in terrible weather.
I know now it was worth every second of their time, and this is why: 1) CSLA has encouraged me to learn as much as possible. I always learn something new every day and I enjoy learning. 2) I was very shy when I first started school. Seminar has taught me not to be shy when speaking in front of others. Now I am not nervous to stand before a large group of people and speak. 3) Because of CSLA, I now play cello. Their music program is very encouraging and friendly. Without it I would not be as talented as I am today. 4) You cannot find any better teachers than we have already. They are very encouraging, nice, intelligent, friendly and are as enthusiastic about CSLA as the parents and students.
I know our school has won many national awards. I know this is because it is one of the best schools in the country. If you keep the County Commission's promise for a new, larger building, it will allow hundreds of more kids in the area to get the same great education I am getting.
Please change your mind about the recommendations you made [last week]. My mom told me CSLA is getting passed over [again] even though the building is falling apart.
Sincerely,
JAMES CALLAN KROLL
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Dear Mayor Coppinger,
My name is Kendall Kroll. I am in the 5th grade at CSLA. I have gone to this school since I was 5 years old. I love my school. I love my teachers. I also love all the activities teachers plan for us like field trips, field day and Civil War re-enactment with water balloons.
The awesome teachers help us learn to become lifelong learners and better people. Good people keep their promises. Please help me understand why Hamilton County does not keep its promise to build a new school.
Sincerely,
KENDALL KROLL