This is a promise that should be kept

Frontiersman Editorial Board

As the Mat-Su Borough School District faces yet another round of challenges, a high school that offers what may be a last chance at education for some Valley students may be in jeopardy. Mid-Valley High School in Big Lake has had to clear one hurdle after another since opening, and it may be facing a daunting high jump now. The school is temporarily housed in a Big Lake church, and that has had some residents in the neighborhood nervous for months now. The school had to raise its enrollment to 200 students before it could move in to a permanent building.

Now the school has learned that the water in the church has failed testing by the Department of Environmental Conservation, and that it is undrinkable. The students are drinking bottled water, but the water issue may prevent it from reaching the 200-student mark. With the neighbors growing more restless, the future of the school could be in doubt. More importantly, the academic future of the students who are trying to finish their education at the school could fall by the wayside.

It is easy to be distracted by the contract negotiations, budget woes and other challenges facing the district, but the 85 students at Mid-Valley deserve our attention, too. The church is in a difficult spot. It opened its doors to these students, but the congregation and clergy are concerned that the present situation could damage the church's relationship with its neighbors. The congregation seems ready for the students to find another building. The district also faces some tough choices. It could look for other temporary arrangements and then work to raise enrollment until a permanent place can be secured; it could look for a permanent facility now, though it seems impossible to make that happen before next fall; it could simply close the school.

The problem here seems to be one of planning. Mid-Valley High School hasn't even completed one year of service, and it already faces a crisis. There are not 200 students currently enrolled, but there are 85, and they deserve a shot at an education. If the district committed to opening the school, and the church agreed to be a temporary home for it, it seems more than unfair to punish the students now. We've seen many instances in the Valley of communities pulling together to endure hardships. The people of Big Lake joined together last year to keep their parks open -- surely, people can pull together now to help these Valley students finish school. Whatever it takes, that's what should be done to make that happen. If it means moving to another temporary location for a time, then that's what should happen. If it means finding a permanent home in a hurry, then that's what should happen. What we can't do is turn our backs on 85 young people who want an education.