BUILDING SCHOOLS ON THE CHEAP

Most people have some problems with portable classrooms. Many of them look shoddy, and they're not exactly the safest places to be during severe weather which occasionally affects our area.

Now, the Polk County School Board is being asked to consider approving two new school campuses made up entirely of portable classrooms!

One of the "modular" elementary schools will be located in Poinciana, in northeast Polk near the Four Corners area. The other will be in southeast Lakeland next to the Traviss Career Centre.

Overcrowding is an ongoing issue in many of Polk County's schools, with a seven percent increase in students over this time last year. And the "modular" schools can be set up in less than a year at, reportedly, half the cost. But is this REALLY the way we should be going? The school board has been working on ways to get kids out of portables for some time.

Maybe the board should consider redistricting some of the attendance lines, moving kids from schools which are overcrowding to ones which have plenty of room...and that is a situation in several areas. Not exactly a popular alternative for some parents, but ya do what ya gotta do. Just put the can on this crazy idea!