In the past few weeks there have been many discussions concerning the upcoming Freeport vote on Dec. 17. Opinions from all different points of view have been expressed throughout this debate, however there is one significant point of view that has not been considered: that of the students. This is meant to finally give the student perspective on this issue.

Between Friday, Dec. 6 and Monday, Dec. 9, over 200 student signatures supporting the continuation of the RSU have been collected. Students from all three towns have expressed support of this opinion.

There are many arguments for both sides, yet students believe there are more benefits in keeping the RSU. There are three major points which, from students? perspectives, show why a vote no on the 17th is vote for continuing a symbiotic relationship.

Over the past few years there has been an increase in the participation of extracurricular activities. In sports, it has led to the increased competitiveness of Freeport High School?s teams. This is entirely due to the fact that we now have a larger number of athletes in the school. As many people might have heard, the girls soccer team reached the semi-finals by defeating Yarmouth on their turf field, which has never been done before. Seven of the players, about half the team, were from towns other than Freeport. There are many other examples, but this is a standout and shows how far the RSU has brought Freeport athletics.

Beyond athletics, clubs have also increased participation and thus have had a larger impact on the school and community. For example, Interact, the community service club at FHS, has been able to sponsor more events and contribute more hours of service to the community.

Another part of our school that has seen drastic improvement is the amount of classes made available to students. These classes range from Focus 9, a freshman introductory course meant to help students assimilate the a high-school environment, to AP classes, such as Art History, Biology, Calculus and World History. Without a large enough student body, many of these classes would not be able to run and these students wouldn?t have the opportunity to get the special education they deserve.

Lastly, our understanding is that the original intent of looking into withdrawal was to ensure that the outdated high school be renovated. After the vote in November, this desire has been fulfilled without needing to withdraw. Furthermore, if this vote passes it will postpone the renovation that has just been passed by voters from all three towns.

It seems like this is a step in the wrong direction after such a monumental gain.

Dissolving the RSU has been the subject of a few studies done by multiple towns. They show that withdrawal may not benefit the three towns. More importantly, beyond these surveys, there is the known consequence of delaying a much-needed renovation. On top of curricular and extracurricular improvements, the RSU has allowed students from all three towns to grow up feeling a part of a larger, more diverse, community. By voting no on Dec. 17, you will be voting for the continuation of a thriving community.

Travis Libsack

Nick Nelsonwood

Freeport

Seniors at Freeport High School

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