LETTERS: JACKSON SCHOOLS HAVE PURCHASED LAND AT A BARGAIN

To the editor:

Jackson is the jewel of Southeast Missouri. We have experienced a 30 percent population increase when other communities have barely been able to stay even or have had a decrease in population. One of the contributing factors is the fantastic school system we enjoy.

The Jackson High School campus is one of the most pleasing and beautiful in Southeast Missouri. If we lose the opportunity to purchase land around it, what land is available in the city limits to build a new high school? If it took four times to pass a small bond issue for additions to the junior high school, how in the world does anyone think the community would approve a $30 million bond issue for a new high school?

With the exception of the land for South Elementary School, which was bought with bond money, the remaining property has been purchased with 40 percent local funds and 60 percent state money. In its simplest terms, that is buying $1 bills for 40 cents, which most people would do in a heartbeat. If the school district had only purchased land with bond issues, the people of Jackson would have paid 100 cents of every dollar spent. The land that has been purchased was not all for the high school.

Now that East Main Street has been cut through, I suggest that everybody take a look at the Lacy Street property. A local appraiser told me the value of that land has appreciated 50 percent in just the last several years. What a fantastic purchase our past board made.

MICHAEL L. TOMLIN

Jackson, Mo.