By Paula Mabry
You know the old saying, the one that goes “Nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room . . .”
Well, in this issue, let us introduce you to The Elephant at Eugene Field School.
Eugene Field is a beautiful, historic building that places education right smack dab in the heart of the community. Generations of Silverton area residents learned to read in its classrooms, were reminded to walk in its halls and told time by the bells marking recess, lunch or the end of the school day.
In some ways it’s a treasure.
But the old girl is showing her age. Sometimes it’s apparent in things that are inconvenient – a lack of electrical
outlets or worn faucets and fixtures.
Other times its apparent in environmental issues: poor ventilation, inconsistent temperatures and outmoded heat sources.
And then there is The Elephant.
Is the old girl’s age and physical condition silently contributing to other issues – health issues – among staff members and the children they serve?
The Silver Falls School District has been diligent in attempts to monitor and address issues as it can, but unless the citizens are willing to invest in either major renovations or new facility its options are fairly limited to patch and preserve.
If you don’t have a child enrolled in school there, you may not be aware.
Please share your thoughts with us on this story on ourtownlive.com.
