Efficiency is a word that comes up a lot as the closure of schools is discussed. The most financially efficient way to teach children would be squish them all into huge schools and give them a rubber stamp education. Closing schools and crowding the children on the east side because the west side is crowded doesn't make any sense. We want more for all our kids and need to plan accordingly.

The long range planning that Granite District does needs to allow some room for class size reduction. East side and West side both, parents feel very strongly that classes are too big. When schools are filled, and sometimes over-filled, there is no way that class sizes can be reduced. No matter what the Legislature funds or what land trust money is available or how many volunteers show up, schools can get locked into big class sizes simply because there is no more space in the building. All of our schools need a little growing room and a little elbow room.

Over the last few months many parents in many neighborhoods have talked a great deal about our concerns for the planned options proposed by the Granite School District. As a result of that discussion the Friends for Education Coalition was born. Parents need to know there are other solutions than the three options being presented by Granite District. The Friends for Education Coalition has presented the Sustainable Education Option that advocates that neighborhood schools stay strong and open in every part of the valley, that Granite School District look ahead with truly long-range planning, and that children and the education that best suits their individual needs come first.

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Diane L. Mangum is the parent of a daughter attending school in Granite District, a preschool teacher, former PTA president and a member of the Friends for Education Coalition.