So by now, anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock is aware of the one-cent sales tax vote that’s to take place on March 23. With this vote, the future of Baldwin County Schools hangs in balance, either waiting to witness a plummet into even more difficult times, or maintaining a strenuous, but steady hold on what we have until the financial crisis becomes less threatening.

So with this, any sane human being that lives in the Baldwin County area (12 months out of the year) would realize that this one cent holds a great amount of importance. But with every “vote yes” supporter, there is another individual that doesn’t understand the necessity of this tax, and that’s precisely why I’m writing this column.

Being a sophomore at Gulf Shores High School, I’m aware of the hardships that Baldwin County Schools have to cope with each day and the great amount of effort it takes to keep the well-known success of our schools up to par. Everybody involved with our schools (including parents, teachers and caring citizens) are lending helping hands to insure the education of our country’s future leaders. Although these efforts help tremendously, they aren’t enough to settle all hardships. That’s why on March 23, our county will vote on a one-cent sales tax to provide our schools with much needed money for survival.

But this tax goes well beyond our schools; it affects our towns in general. If Baldwin County Schools develop unsuitable learning environments, its towns could loose business and new citizens looking to move here; all starting a chain reaction that results in the loss of more money that we can’t afford to do without.

That’s why the Baldwin County Association of Realtors is supporting the tax. They are aware that if this tax is voted down, it could jeopardize the county as a whole.

So this calls for a time for all citizens who love Baldwin County to stand up and do what’s right for our schools. Times are difficult, this I know, but the money that comes from this tax is essential. Our schools are beyond the point of trimming unnecessary fat from what we really need; we are now cutting muscle and bone.

The first programs that will be taken from our schools will be athletics and many electives. I, being apart of the GSHS tennis team, realize the affect that an athletic program can have on a person’s life. An athletic team influences goals and discipline, helps develop friendships, and simply serves as another source of enjoyment in a student’s life.

Without athletics, Baldwin County could experience a drastic increase in participation in gangs and drug use, along with many other harmful outcomes. The same holds true for electives such as Art, Drama, Driver’s Ed and P.E. being cut.          

School could become a monotonous chore; lacking the joy and important influence that it currently has on a student’s life. Education and test scores could drop due to packed classrooms containing 45 or more students. I, along with many other students, have trouble concentrating and find that having a one-on-one relationship with my teachers very important. With packed classrooms, this relationship would disappear and reaching my highest potential in school would be much more difficult.

If you are a retiree who doesn’t have children, I know what you may be thinking: This tax doesn’t affect me; this is just more unnecessary money coming out of my wallet. I understand this, but you must do what’s right and open your heart to better our community as a whole. All citizens in our county must do what’s right.

I’m not asking you to vote for this tax because of fear of what will happen if it is not passed, I’m asking you to do it because it’s simply the right thing to do. I think it was Winston Churchill who said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.” We’ve tried everything else, so now let’s just do what’s right: Vote Yes.

Basch Jernigan can be reached at basch@gulftel.com.