Do not paint over the legacy of former students

It has come to my understanding that the Administrative Staff of Stephens Elementary are opting to paint over certain sections of the school, including but not limited to, the left wall of the building containing hand prints of all former students who have graduated from your fine school. With this knowledge, I must protest.

While I truly understand the need to maintain a clean and safe facility to help provide a haven for learning, I feel that this is not the right solution to the problem. Painting over such a legacy of former students is a travesty, and an injury to all former students and family members who are able to go back and visit the hand-mural and recall such vibrant times from our past; it also removes a gleam of hope for those who have yet to graduate, as they too yearn to leave their markand while they may not see the importance of it now, when they return after graduating high school as many have done before, they too would share of the fond memoryif it can only be there.

I am a concerned voice. I am either a former student, a parent of a current or former student, a faculty or staff member, or friend of Stephens Elementary. Please, rather than painting over such vibrant colors and child-friendly imagery with such bland, facilitative colors, let us help you. Reach out into the community of alumni, faculty and staff, and friends, and tell us what we can do to help maintain the wonder of Stephens Elementary.