Batavia HS plan seems extravagant

I am writing to express my dismay at the proposed long-term plan for the Batavia High School athletic field. I hope the school board will look very critically at the issues relative to this plan.

The cost of $14 million seems truly extravagant since the population of school age children is projected to decline in the coming years.

While traditional athletic programs will remain important in the future, future trends emphasize lifetime sports and programs that can involve the entire student body in activities and health awareness.

In 1965 Batavia school board created a small arboretum in the southwest corner of the Batavia High School property. It was designated for that purpose and was never part of the athletic field. To acquire trees this board encouraged donations of trees so students and residents of he community donated trees as living memorials. Many of the trees on this site are over 50 years old. Since the arboretum has a nice variety of trees in a small area it has been used for school science projects. I submit that destroying the arboretum would be a grave error.

I sincerely hope that this present and all future board of education honor the commitment that was made to this cherished arboretum and also to cause fiscal responsibility.

Ellen Hamilton

Batavia