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May 20 is primary day in Pennsylvania.  It’s our chance to select candidates for Governor.  Locally, we’ll be voting on the funding to renovate the State College Area High School.

The outcome of this question will impact our Penn State community for years to come.  The high school buildings on Westerly Parkway are more than 50 years old and they’re progressively failing.  A comprehensive update is long overdue.

Good schools affect quality of life for faculty and staff.  More than half of State High grads choose Penn State for college.  About 1200 matriculating Penn State students are State High alums.  Penn State and State High are joined at the hip.

The May 20 primary is different from other primaries.  Whether you’re an Independent, Democrat or Republican, if you’re registered to vote at University Park or anywhere else in the State College Area School District, you can vote on this issue.  Again, Independents can vote!

Here are a couple suggestions:

First, if you’re going to be out of town on May 20, then you need to obtain an absentee ballot .  It’s easy to do.  You must apply for a ballot no later than 5 PM on May 13.  Forms are available at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte or you can download one at http://pa-centrecounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=452.

Second, get informed.  You’ll find a lot of information at http://www.scasd.org/statehighfuture.  You can also watch video tours of the buildings and descriptions of the renovation plans at https://www.youtube.com/user/statehighproject.

Third, do what Penn Staters do best: get involved!  Please vote on May 20.  It’s important to future generations of students at State High and Penn State.