I am an 18-year-old senior at SAD 32 (Ashland Community High School). I am also the newly elected school board member for the town of Portage Lake. I decided to run for this position because of the highly debated issue of Ashland leaving SAD 32. I am the president of the National Honor Society and a student council member. I feel the students need a voice in the possible breakup of our school. I fully understand my duties and commitment to the town of Portage Lake. I encourage anyone to contact me about this and all issues affecting the school.

I would like to explore the social impact the separation could cause in student activities. Would an Ashland parent want to travel to another town and pick their child up every day from sporting events or after school studies? Or if the student missed a bus in a town 25 miles away, what would a parent do? Ask any parent who travels from Buffalo or Oxbow the commitment this requires.

When the school has academic affairs and awards banquets do parents want to get home at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. on a school night? Or miss a half-day of work for a parent teacher conference? What would children do during the harvest break? If Ashland were to become an independent school would there always be enough children to form sports teams? Would the neighbors who grew up together and established friendships now go to different schools? How large would the classes be in an independent school? Would it be K-12? What would it cost?

What would happen to the present school? Would the student feel like an outcast in a school of 1,000 plus? Sure students might think there are more educational choices in a large school. Maybe there is more culture, but do students really want to get up 45 minutes earlier than they do now for that?

Would the employees of SAD 32 who help to make up the community relocate? Don’t these employees get gas, buy food, bank and get building materials at local businesses in Ashland? What type of tax base would Ashland have then? What about the loss of income to area business?

Students receive a strong education from dedicated teachers. These students are the future taxpayers and voters of the communities that make up SAD 32. Let your voice be heard.

Alan Hitchcock

Portage Lake