Letter to the editor: A new high school is necessary

Eight years ago, we chose to move to Quaker Valley School District from another top Pittsburgh school district for the unique community feel. With a walkable shopping area, many community organizations, non-profit organizations and traditional community events like Light Up Night and the Memorial Day parade, we have a very special community. We recognized what a great school district QV was, with great teachers, an expansive selection of extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities and the success of the graduates.

We have beautiful facilities for our elementary and middle school students – facilities that reflect the vibrant learning happening in their walls. Our high school students, teachers and staff deserve the same level of quality, safety and health considerations embodied in their building to reflect the amazing learning and growth happening.

Three years ago, we took a tour of the high school when our district leaders presented the opportunity. While the building has served the community, it has outlived its useful life. It does not at all reflect a community where people pay a premium for their homes. If we expect our homes to maintain a premium, our school facilities need to be worth that investment for property owners. At some point, people will stop paying a premium to live in a community that has a building in the condition our current one is. They can get more house for less money in a higher-ranked school district with better buildings. Our tax millage also is lower than many other top school districts in our area.

While people choose our community when they relocate to Pittsburgh for all if its special characteristics, it would be unfortunate for our high school to become the reason people stop choosing Quaker Valley. The teachers, administration, staff and students make the educational experience what it is, but our district’s facilities should mirror that experience.

Our building should reflect our desire to be good stewards of the community and environment. Differently-abled people should be able to comfortably attend school or work and parents and grandparents should be able to comfortably visit our campus. Drop off should be safe. No one should worry about the air they are breathing.

Three decades is long enough to take action on this decision. The time is now to build a new high school at the new location for our future. Thank you to our QV administration for all their work on this project.

Jamie and Pam Rogers

Edgeworth