My name is Alyse Huggins and I am a former student at Madison Comprehensive High School. I’m writing this letter with hopes that I convince you to vote YES for the upcoming levy. Madison is a special community to be a part of. There are so many unique aspects to Madison and so many ways that students can be involved. Some of those ways include being a part of a sports team, being a member of the band/choir/performing arts, getting involved in a club, attending sporting events, helping with community activities like trunk or treat, the bonfire celebration before the football game against Mansfield Senior, and so much more. Additionally, Madison is a comprehensive high school, meaning that they offer something for everyone: general education classes, electives, Honors classes and CCP courses, Career Tech classes, and Adult Education courses.
My entire life I went to Madison. I started my education at Mifflin Elementary, then moved to Madison Middle School, and finished at Madison Comprehensive High School. I played a huge role at Madison in many different ways. To keep the list a little shorter I will only mention the extracurriculars during my high school experience. During my freshman year through my senior year I was involved in varsity soccer (4 years), track (1 year), basketball (1 year), mentor at the Friendly House (4 years), Executive Committee (2 years, vice president 1 year), Student Council (4 years, president 1 year), OCC leadership (3 years), FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (chapter president 1 year), volunteered at Mifflin Elementary in a first grade classroom (1 year) and was honored to be the recipient of the Ram Pride Scholarship. Madison granted me the ability to be involved in so many extracurricular activities and helped support and cheer me on through them all. With all of these roles I played, especially in sports, the Madison Booster Club helped support the many expenses. The girls soccer team would help with bingo clean up which granted us money to help pay for our meals, travel fees, and new/ better gear. It takes a village to successfully support a school. The levy that will be taking place within the next few days will better help not only the sports programs but as well as the many opportunities Madison offers to every student. If you have played a sport or been in an extracurricular that you loved, you understand the heartbreak behind not having the funds to further support the current athletes/ students.
I am currently attending Ashland University to major in Early Childhood Education with the ultimate goal of becoming an elementary teacher in the future. With this being said, I had a close relationship with numerous teachers at Madison who go far and beyond to give every student the education they deserve. If cuts are made with teachers, it brings stress upon the other staff who will have to take on other positions. Electives for students may be cut, class sizes will increase, one on one learning opportunities may become scarce, and more challenges will be faced along the way. If you’ve ever volunteered in an Elementary classroom, you may have witnessed first hand how difficult it can be for a teacher to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every student in every subject, as well as support the children’s social and emotional development. Adding more and more students to classrooms only intensifies this struggle and can impact students reaching their fullest potential. Volunteering in a 1st grade classroom allowed me to see firsthand the stress that is put upon teachers to keep meeting such high demands amongst the cuts that have already been made in this district. You can be the best teacher but still experience the feeling you cannot do something or are not good enough to meet every need. Teachers need the support from the community not only for help, but as a reminder we are thankful for what they do for our children and grandchildren. I can only hope that one day, I have the honor of serving the Madison school district as an elementary teacher. It would mean the world to me to teach in the district I grew up in and have so much pride in.
Let’s come together, as a community and vote YES on Nov. 4th for the Madison levy! Be a part of the reason that Madison can continue to provide endless opportunities to their students, staff and community.
Alyse Huggins
Mansfield, Ohio