My name is Noelia Olinger, and I am a junior at Granville Central High School. 

Granville Central High School was built and added to our community in 2007. And now again our school is being struck with the news that our beloved high school could be foreclosed, merged with other high schools in the area, and turned into a middle school. 

The foreclosure of GCHS would leave community members with more cons than pros. This merger would disrupt hundreds of high school students' experiences, disrupt the employment of dozens of public school employees, provide less space for student drivers and the school's staff, squeeze more students into smaller hallways, and throw kids into crowded classrooms screaming for bad behavior to erupt. This decision will send students and not only them but staff into a wave of chaos, disorganization, depression, anxiety, and disappointment. 

There will need to be choices and decisions made on students, sports, academics, and extracurricular. Staff will lose their jobs, the students will downgrade or have to join new programs, and students at the top of their academics may not have that spot anymore at a new school. At GCHS we have a HUGE FFA program these students will have to let that go and no longer have our 5 workshops for CTE-related classes. Many sports teams will lose their connections with teammates, lose their legacy, and even lose their coach. This year we have projected to see and have already had a growth in school spirit. 

If the merger happens GCHS students and staff will lose more than the school board will gain from this. We will lose our history, our friendships, alumni, our programs, OUR DIVERSITY, and our panther pride. Central has become a place where students have enjoyed being and coming back to in past years then sending their children to this school. It would be a great misfortune for students who have spent their high school career as a panther and will not graduate as a panther. 

As students, we are reaching our arms out in hopes that our community will support us. This is why we are asking from the depths of our hearts and with the utmost respect for your help to urge the Granville County Board of Education to reconsider the foreclosure and to think about their students!