Mary Persons High School is preparing to spend $17.5 million to upgrade Dan Pitts Stadium — adding new grandstands, a fieldhouse, video board, and more. But many of us in the community are asking: what about the students?

Across Georgia and right here in our own school, students are facing serious challenges. Class sizes are growing. Teachers are stretched thin. Mental health support is limited, and college readiness resources are not always accessible. A brand-new scoreboard won’t help a student struggling with anxiety. A re-sodded field won’t boost a student’s SAT score.

This isn’t about opposing athletics — sports matter, and the stadium holds an important place in our community. But we believe students should come first. Before we pour millions into a building, we should make sure every student in that building has what they need to succeed.

We’re calling on school district leaders and county officials to reevaluate this investment and ensure that student-centered priorities are being met first. That means real funding for classroom resources, teacher support, student mental health services, and after-school programs that benefit everyone — not just athletes.

Mary Persons is full of bright, driven, capable students. Let’s make sure our dollars reflect our values. Sign this petition if you believe it’s time to put students first — before stadiums.