This is an open letter to the Warren County School District Board of Education.

Just who are you helping with your program of consolidation? You certainly are not helping the children of the county.

I am a retired elementary teacher, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Youngsville High School is more centered for travel than Eisenhower.

You are causing children to travel long distances and times to reach Eisenhower. They will have longer bus trips. They will have to get up earlier and lose time after school for other activities.

If they have homework, they will have less time for recreation, Scouts, church activities, private lessons and relaxing.

Were any of the board members ever children? These are youths, not robots.

I was in band, choir, took music lessons and participated in church groups. Sometimes I was doing homework until 3 a.m. — and my high school was about a block away.

The children who have been attending Youngsville High School do not need to have a farther distance to travel.

Besides all that, the Youngsville community will be losing a center of activity and have to travel farther for concerts that are normally after dark, meetings, sports and other school activities. Our community has always supported the school greatly. We love the school, the children, youth and faculty.

If I am not mistaken, Eisenhower is out in the middle of nowhere. Youngsville has a doctor’s office, stores, a police station, emergency headquarters and even a post office all close by. The hospital can be reached faster because of the school’s closeness to Route 6 and the fire department is very close.

Recently I had a possible house fire and the department got to my house in such a short time it was here before I had a leash on my dog and got outside. Two other fire departments arrived in about six minutes or less and an ambulance a short time later.

I think I am about seven blocks from the department and the school is much closer.

I realize this argument has been going on for years, but I believe you have chosen the wrong consolidation plan. Please use other advisers.

Children are my favorite people. They deserve better in this choice.

Jane Balling is a Youngsville resident.