Citizen action is paramount to saving the Orofino Junior High School! According to the Joint School District No. 171 Web site, the school board and superintendent solicit patron "suggestions and comments." They say, "We want your input." Let us take them at their word. In order to save this vital facility, each of us must express our concerns by contacting district officials with a phone call, e-mail or letter and by attending and speaking our concerns at the next school board meeting on April 9.

Because of overwhelming patron opposition to abandoning OJHS voiced at the March 19 hearing, school officials are reconsidering future plans for local school facilities. However, according to the district's Web site, these plans still do not include an option for retaining the OJHS facility. The reason for abandoning OJHS is portrayed as a cost-savings measure. The district's numbers (see Web site) do not bear this out.

District officials present a mix of cuts from facilities and personnel as their "projected savings." This is an exercise in obfuscation. Funds used to operate facilities are a drop in the bucket compared to those funds required for personnel. In fact, if you study the numbers carefully, you will notice that moving the students to temporary facilities creates additional facility costs while at the same time degrades the school environment for the involved students. ...

Regardless what Jim Fisher of the Lewiston Tribune says (March 21 editorial), OJHS is safe. According to the custodian, the facility has not had a single safety write-up in the past three years. ...

TRELAWNY J. BRUCE

Orofino