I am speaking on the behalf of George Rogers Clark. As you all know, both Gavit and Clark are most likely going to be shut down, and we will only have 2 open high schools. I understand, it will help the city greatly, if were talking just money. Gavit has about 1,600 students, while Clark is at about 1,500 students. Pushing nearly 3,000 kids among only 2 other schools is outrageous. I, as a student myself, already hate the stress of crowded hallways, full classes, drama/conflicts, and the cluster of traffic in the morning. I know what you're thinking, this new Hammond High School and Morton can accommodate all of these students. While the buildings can, what about the stress of students and teachers? Teachers are already overwhelmed and overly stressed with 25-35 kids in a classroom. Students like myself dislike this as well, as some of us learn slower/faster and may need extra assistance. With larger classes and short class periods this becomes difficult to learn to our full potential. Lets not even mention transportation. Clark is farthest from all of the other hammond high schools, and working out transportation could be chaotic. Buses would be out for hours picking students up, not to mention students getting up earlier than we are already. The same concept applies to after school. And lets be real, students who participate in extracurricular would get home even later, being most of us live 20-30 minutes away from Hammond High/Morton. Clark has recently become a much more comfortable school. Our art students have put beautiful murals up, astonishing artwork in halls, and are trying to encourage school spirit. Clarks fall sports did phenomenal this year, and with bigger sports teams, it will be harder for each individual athlete to reach their potential with way more kids. I do not support the shutting down of Clark. My schools teachers and staffs are family to each other and students. Clark is the place many of us made lifelong friends and memories, and where many future generations can. Please protest the shutting down of two great high schools.