RECENT COMMENTS
Sign the petition to Build A Better George Mason Elementary School
Wanda A has launched a petition to Build A Better George Mason Elementary School:
George Mason Elementary School is close to a century old. The facility can no longer support the needs of the students, staff, and families. There are on-going issues with ALL bathrooms, rodent/insect problems and heat/cooling issues. All of these factors contribute to the difficulty in a proper teaching and learning environment.
George Mason is on the cusp of something great. We have over 85 volunteers that partner with our school on a monthly basis that are committed. These people, combined with our faculty and staff need and deserve a better working environment. In order to encourage our staff professionally, invest in them and retain them we have to move to a new building and/or build a new one. Our people (students and staff) need this to happen and soon! The time is now, we cannot wait.
Finally, moving to a new building and/or building a new one would prove to our students and staff that they are cared for. Our building is truly in a state of emergency. At the end of the day, the building of GMES produces major health issues that IMPACT how are students learn and how our staff are able to teach.
The fundamental question is this: How can we expect the best from our people (our staff, volunteers, and especially, the kids) if we do not give them the best facility that they spend their valued time in?
I’m all for a new school or a rebuilding of the existing one, but please, do not let this structure sit abandoned for years as so many other city properties wind up doing.
I started volunteering at George Mason in 2016, visiting at least once a week to read with 1st graders throughout the school year. I was shocked by the state of this elementary school. During my orientation I was told the clocks haven’t worked in years and most of the bathrooms are out of order. I believe there was one working stall for the entire school that day. I remember driving home in tears over the stark contrast between George Mason and the elementary school my kids attend on the far west end. How can GM kids be expected to succeed with the challenges many face at home if our public education system doesn’t meet their basic needs?? A building in which they feel safe, comfortable and happy is a start and it is what every child deserves!
Please help George Mason Elementary School. It is in dire need of repair and resources. The children, teachers and staff need and deserve a healthy environment to learn, work and play.