BORAH: Don’t take away ‘our kids’

I couldn’t believe my eyes Saturday! Close down Borah School? Borah is not just a school; it is central to a close-knit neighborhood.

At Seventh and Best there are two senior facilities, one a rehabilitation center, and I live in the other, Bestland. When school lets out at 3:30, many of us, on both sides, line up outside to greet the children walking or biking toward home. Some stop to visit grandparents or senior friends that live here. The crossing guard, who also visits, knows many people by name.

On Halloween, the children come to parade and show off their costumes and while walking up the street all the neighbors come out to watch and throw candy to them! 

On Valentine’s Day the Borah kids come and hand us all valentines or leave them in our door. On Mother’s Day they hand deliver flowers here and neighboring homes. Sometimes on Easter, too. They also come Christmas caroling.

A class will sometimes come to read to us or have us read to or with them. I have kept pictures and written stories about these events and can tell you that closing Borah would be very fracturing to our close-knit community. 

I understand the school board’s decision will be based on many factors and will be a tough one but please consider the intergenerational families in this small neighborhood who would grieve the loss of “our kids.”

MARIAN BRECKENRIDGE

Coeur d’Alene