Secure education is our future!

To the Editor:

Thank you to the folks in Andover who made it out to the Andover Withdrawal Committee informational meeting recently. Speaking for many Andover parents, we appreciate your support for Andover Elementary (AES) it is an important part of lives and community.

My husband and I moved to this community in 2011 along with our daughter. I was hesitant to send my daughter to Andover Elementary due to fear of its closing. However after meeting many of our daughters soon to be classmates, their parents, and the AES staff , I knew this was the best place for our daughter. So we've taken a chance! And my husband and I have been busy involved in everything happening in the school ever since.

As a member of the PTA I am at the school weekly either helping with the Arts and Crafts (Friendship Club), helping to coordinate events such as, Grandparents day, Halloween parties, christmas craft fairs, or just supporting any school sponsored activity as well as volunteering at the school library once a month.

It is important for a child to attend school in the community where they live. My husband proves this is true he was an AES student he grew up in this community and now he brings a family and a buisness to this community. We support our school, our church, and all local buisness. We are living proof that we need to keep our strong educational values and elementary school in Andover these children are our future and our communities future and you can't put a price tag on that.

And for those of you who may ask where were the parents at last Tuesday's meeting (March 5). I want to make you aware that as a parent 7 p.m. is a very difficult time for us to be going out of the home we are busy preparing those precious students for the next school day so while we may not make it to every meeting, please be reassured that we are aware of where the Withdrawal Committee is in the process and we are working very hard behind the scenes getting the word out and letting others know how important keeping education in Andover is to us!

Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming another new family to the community they were drawn here by the quality of life we have to offer here our school and by the shared experience of her life long friend who had already moved her family here.

So, thank you for your continued support of Andover's future as a solid community. Keeping the elementary school open, supporting the Withdrawal Committee, reaching out to your friends, family members, and state officials to let them know that we want to keep education in Andover, this is an exciting and bold step, going on our own, is the best thing you can do for Andover's future.

Let's set the precedence because other communities are facing similiar difficulties let's show them it can be done and pave the way!

Amber Cooper