As a resident of Eldred Township, the article outlining the school board’s planned motion to consolidate Youngsville High School into Eisenhower is concerning (Aug. 27).

A direct drive to Youngsville High is 16 miles from my house, taking on average 21 minutes. Children in the area get on the bus at 7 am. Their bus ride with all stops is already just under an hour long.

The trip to Eisenhower is double that mileage.

How does the school board realistically expect students from the western townships to double their commute time? Out of all options, this closure seems like the most disruptive, negatively affecting a majority of Warren County students.

When you consider our county map, Youngsville’s school is as close to the center of the county as it gets. The drastic difference in travel time makes Youngsville better suited. Youngsville Borough also has police and emergency services available within blocks of the school building, along with more accessible roads to their facilities.

I have pondered if Eisenhower could be consolidated into an extension of the career center. This would contribute to community pride and optimism, and a higher percent of our county’s youth would have access to the career center’s educational opportunities.

In closing, I believe most residents would agree that doubling one of the longest commutes in our district is completely unreasonable. Shutting down Youngsville High would create a loss of accessible education in our county.

Christina Bingman is an Eldred Township resident.