As an elementary and secondary school student, I was very fortunate, for the most part, to attend good schools, both in the physical and educational sense. As far as I remember, they all had central heat and air conditioning and were in decent condition, though that certainly varied from building to building. However, I did encounter a few instances of a school population outgrowing its facility.

When I lived in Columbia and attended public school there, I had one whole year with a trailer as my classroom. I don't remember much about the trailer itself or the quality of my learning in it, and it wasn't a terribly long walk to the main school building, probably about 75 feet. But, I can recall bundling up in winter coats just to walk inside to lunch or special classes like music and P.E. Once, after a snow and ice storm, I fell flat on my back as I climbed the stairs into the school, walking there by myself to go to the bathroom. Thankfully, I emerged unhurt though a little shaken.

After I moved to Branson, I had two more experiences with trailer classrooms. My gifted class during fifth and sixth grade was held in a trailer, but I only went there about once each week. Then in high school, I had a history class in a trailer. Actually, it was in half the trailer, and another teacher used the other half; so our desks were a bit crowded, and we could hear the other class' lessons, too. I probably would've had more classes in such outbuildings, except a bond issue was passed and a new high school built, ready for my junior and senior years.

Moving into that new school was something really exciting. I'd always liked school, but the new building with a beautiful open commons area and a special auditorium felt so nice and modern. It meant better spaces for school dances and band concerts, even musical productions. Of course, the new school took some adjustment, and we missed some aspects of the old one, like the painted driveway or the red and black lockers. But it was a great change for the better for all students and teachers: more space, better technology and a pleasant environment can only yield positive results.

As Election Day rolls around, I urge Marshall voters to think about this school bond issue as part of something much bigger. It's not just a new school that's going to cost lots of money. It's a new facility that will make kids feel special -- they will know that their community cares about them, and perhaps that will make them care more about school. It's a new building, not only for the current students but also for generations to come -- think of it as an investment in the future of the town. A new school building is important as a replacement for some of the current dilapidated facilities, but it is imperative for the continued growth and development of Marshall and its citizens.