A mother pleads for Leone High School

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As election fever settles down, the heat is being turned up out west over the condition of Leone High School.

A letter from a parent to the media calls on elected officials to look into ensuring much needed upgrading is done at the home of the Lions.

Jessica Von-Schmidt Madrigal says, “These are your next focus of voters in the next election season and at this point, they see no investment from their elected officials in their future starting with where they learn.”

The mother points out that the improvement of facilities, resources, personnel, and academic performance of the far west-end high school of the island, Leone High School, is in dire need of DOE attention.

“As a concerned parent and an actively involved alumni of this school, it breaks my heart to hear my children complain daily about the current status of their school and learning environment.”

Lack of resources in books, desks and chairs to hot and heated classrooms with barely any or no working ceiling fans, and poor ventilation are some of the issues the school faces according to the letter writer.

The letter also points out that there’s only one water fountain for the more than 700 students at the school.

Teacher shortage is also an issue von Schmidt Madrigal says is an on going concern with students being shuffled between classes because of the shortage.

“I urge you representatives, senators, and leaders of our community to please look into these problem areas at the school,” she writes.

“Our children are the future of our government and here they are crying out for help in their educational journey. They are going to be flocking to the polls in 2020 and they will remember who was there to ensure that their school was at its best condition to learn and grow or remain open and accredited”.

While the other public high schools were given four year accreditations, Leone highSchool was accredited with probationary status, by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) during their visit to Leone earlier this year. Up to now Director of Education Dr. Ruth Matagi Tofiga has not answered our questions about this.