Dear Editor
My name is Shadrick Shafer, and I have been a proud Perry County resident for 20 years. I am writing to ask for your support of Prop K.I.D.S. on April 7 to build a new high school for our students and families.
This community has always operated on two principles: pride in who we are and practicality in how we make decisions. The proposed plan for the new high school is built on both.
For decades, PHS has been a patchwork of nearly a dozen buildings and annexes added over 70 years. Each addition made sense at the time, and we honor the generations who did the best they could. But the tornado last March pulled back the curtain on problems we can no longer patch around — buckets catching rainwater in hallways, classrooms that flood every fall and spring, roofing that does not meet earthquake codes, rooms with only two electrical outlets, HVAC systems that were never designed to work together and repeatedly fail, and exterior walls sinking into the ground, creating and extending cracks. These are not simple maintenance issues; they are structural realities built into a facility that was never designed as a whole.
The new facility brings all students under one roof, eliminating supervision gaps between buildings, incorporating clear sightlines for safety, creating classrooms that promote 21st-century learning, and providing collaborative spaces that research consistently links to better student outcomes. Every space is being reworked to serve multiple functions, and every decision in this plan leads to one goal: more opportunities for Perry County students — opportunities they need and deserve.
This is not about excess. The plan is to build new where needed and renovate where it makes sense, including a full renovation of the structurally sound 1970s wing. We are not building the most expensive school in the state, and we are not asking for more than is necessary. At some point, you stop throwing good money after bad on something you cannot trust, and you invest in something built to last. That can be a tough call in the moment, but it is the same practical decision many would make for their own households.
The reality is that everything costs more than it did 10 years ago, and it will likely cost even more 10 years from now. If we do not fund this project properly now, we will continue spending money on failing infrastructure — until we ultimately must build a new facility anyway. Next time, costs will be higher, and we will no longer have insurance proceeds to help offset the burden.
The storm that damaged our school was a tragedy. But there is a silver lining — it gives Perry County a rare opportunity to address a long-standing need without taxpayers bearing the full financial weight alone. That window will not remain open.
On April 7, I hope you will take this opportunity to invest in our community’s future.
With gratitude and resolve,
Shadrick Shafer Perry County Resident
