On November 5, the citizens of Greeley will have a chance to vote for Bond 4C, which will help with school improvements and additions at local schools, including Greeley West.  The polls are close, showing a 50/50 chance of the bond passing, which has led to further action to endorse and spread awareness of Greeley West’s condition.

During the school day on October 8, Principal Mr. Cranson led a school tour to many community members to hopefully show the deteriorating condition of the school. Most of the members on the tour were very surprised that kids could still learn and be in the school.

During the first part of the tour, many problems were pointed out as a concern for the safety and well-being of the students. They were shown the many halls with water damage and mold growing in the crevasses. Cranson pointed out, “I remember in the school year when some of the halls flood with water, causing water damage in the floor.” They also saw the security risk of kids knocking on exterior doors, without the kids in the class knowing who it is.

There were also many points along the tour where the tour members would be very surprised at the awkward shape of most classrooms, causing them to be crowded and dysfunctional. One member said, “because of the sizes of these classes, these rooms just can’t serve as classroom. Most of the kids have to turn their chairs around just to see the board.”

They also brought up an expansion of the IB program, and a bigger IB office with a corresponding café where IB students can get help and get homework done without the stress of getting it done, with sports and school projects. “IB is a big part of this school, and we need to enrich the program,” one tour member said.

There was also a lot of talk of what would go into the new plans for the school to make it better for the future generations of kids. They hoped for bigger and functional classrooms, and more hall space so there wouldn’t be as many jams, especially in a hub. While walking through the hub Cranson said, “It might not seem like there is a problem during class time, but during passing period 1000 kids pass through the hub, making it hard to get to class.”

Also, many people on the tour were wondering how the new school would be built, since they couldn’t finish it in one summer. As for the new school they hope, if it passed, to break ground six months after.

They hope the ballparks and courts will serve the public and community, causing the new school not just to be a building for students and teachers. Cranson said, “I hope for the new school to be the center of the city where every community member can see the progression of West and a great space to use for sports and activities.”

This tour was a great opportunity for community members to see the school in its worst light, and how to improve student life with the dawn of a new school if the 4C bond passed. Also, this was a great way to get the word out about the school, to better the chances of the bond passing.  Once community member on the tour said, “It’s not what I will get out of it, but the bigger picture is what the city of Greeley will get out of it.”