Okay is a small town. Right now, our elementary school building is in very good condition, but the rest of the buildings are in terrible condition. The roofs in all three — cafeteria, middle school and high school — leak. Anytime it comes even a nice little shower, the buckets come out of hiding to catch the streams of rain.

The middle school children are crammed into their building like the proverbial can of sardines. They have no lockers in the building and must carry their backpacks with all their books and supplies from room to room.

The voters of Okay School District recently approved $600,000 in bonds to repair the roofs and replace the heating and cooling systems.

But we still desperately need a new high school building. If we could get that, the middle school could then be moved into the building now being used by the high school.

I don’t have anyone in middle or high school. But I am interested in the school system. I want what’s best for our children, school and community.

We have many folks who have come to live around the lake since their retirement. They don’t seem to be interested in the school and community, and perhaps are concerned about a small rise in their property taxes if a school bond is passed.

They also don’t seem to realize, if we lose our school, the next thing will be our post office, and the next to go will be our roads.

Every day or two I see where some Indian tribe gives away thousands of dollars. I see where someone has gotten grant money or some of this stimulus money for new school buildings, roads, tourist attractions, library and now some towns are getting new sidewalks. Wonderful.

But why can’t Okay get some of that help to work on our school building. Is it because we are such a small school that we are considered not important enough?

Elizabeth Cole

Okay