In 2003 the Howell Public Schools came to our community and asked for our support for a bond for a second high school. Howell High School was overcrowded and the 9th grade was temporarily moved to the McPherson Middle School building to give temporary relief for the overcrowding. The Howell community supported our schools and supported the bond to build Parker High School. We have fulfilled our commitment and are currently paying for this beautiful school with our increased taxes. Renovations to Howell High School were performed to upgrade the heating and cooling, provide better traffic flow in the hallways, updates to our media center and produced a state of the art culinary services educational center. BUT, it did not increase classroom space. In the meantime, there has been a slowing of the Michigan economy and a decrease in incoming students resulting in tighter budgets. Our school district has responded by delaying the opening of Parker High School as a second high school. This is understandable in view the current economic conditions but it is becoming painfully obvious recently that the school districts has NO plans on opening the second high school in the near future. In fact, there is consideration for using it as a middle school. This is unacceptable. Our school district should start saving money and start developing a plan to open Parker High School as a High School as soon as feasibly possible.. The opening of Parker would provide two smaller high schools which provides a better learning environment for our students. It would provide more opportunities for students to be involved in co-curricular activities such as athletics, theater, band and music programs. It would free up the Freshman campus building to become either a third middle school or overflow for the overcrowded Highlander Way School. Finally, it would fulfill the school districts promise to the students, parents and taxpayers of our community to build and operate a 2nd high school. We therefore request that Howell Public Schools honor its committment to the students, parents and taxpayers of Howell and proceed with planning for the funding and operation of Parker High School as a high school. Please join us in signing this petition. It will be delivered to the Howell School Board at its 10-13-08 meeting.