Schools Closing

In the upcoming weeks, the budget proposal for next year will be decided upon. Dr. Alonso has proposed a specific budget cut, which will close several schools, but expand others, and some will move to new locations. My school, Dr. Samuel L. Banks High School, is one of the ones that is going to be disappearing. This school is a neighborhood school. A lot of students come here, because it is closest for them. For seniors who are graduating, this won't pose much of a problem. However, for other students, this means they must apply to attend another high school. But the nearest high school for some of these students is quite far. What is upsetting is that Dr. Alonso keeps talking about bringing the kids back in to the schools and the fact that he is closing my school and the school we are housed with, Thurgood Marshall, is going to discourage a lot of students. Students are showing that they do not care due to the fact that they hear their school will no longer be in existence.
The one glimmer of hope I see is in some of my art students. Regardless of what is happening next year, I am still letting the art club and some select students leave their mark in the building—drawing designs on the cabinets and walls. The designs some of these students have come up are very interesting. But for some of these students, that little thing is bringing them to school—the chance to leave their mark.