Schools should be closed for election

To the editor: (copy of a letter sent Feb. 4 to Superintendent Gary Mical, Wheeling Township Elementary District 21):

I am writing to once again voice my concerns over why our public schools, that are locked down every other day except for Election Day, are open for students tomorrow.

We had an Institute Day within the last three weeks, why couldn't this have been changed to Election Day so that our kids could remain safe? Why is it considered a safety issue every other day but come Election Day all buildings are open to the public?

We fought this issue before and in 2004 were told by the board that this would not happen. Below is a letter that was printed in the Herald in April 2004 from me commending the board on this decision. Slowly, however, the board has changed it's position and I feel once again putting our kids in jeopardy.

To the editor: I would like to thank District 21 for doing a great job for our children by implementing an Institute Day during this past election.

In this day and age when schools are normally locked to the public, it did not make sense to put our children at risk during a time of election.

I hope in the future District 21 will continue to protect our children as they did this past month.

I want to tell you that I am once again keeping my child home tomorrow because of this issue. While this is my last year in District 21 I want to strongly urge you to once again either keep voting out of our schools or at the very least call an Institute Day on Election Day, so that our kids can remain as secure as you keep them all other days.

Joy Perlman

Wheeling