To the editor:

Last week's Phoenix featured an article regarding the need for a new high school to replace the existing Mt. Hope High School and the obstacles that may be encountered if a hypothetical bond is passed to build this new school.

Let me begin by stating that I am 100 percent in favor of building a new high school, and even with no children, grandchildren, or other relatives who would benefit from the building of a new high school, I feel that a quality public education in modern facilities is imperative for the towns of Bristol and Warren to remain an attractive location to raise a family, and if and when a bond is proposed to finance this new school, I will be voting in favor of it, but with certain stipulations.

When Bristol High School (now Mt. Hope High) was built in 1965, the town leaders at the time made a huge mistake in choosing to construct it in its current location, which sits in the middle of wetlands. Since it was built, the land on which it sits has been plagued by flooding, even after just some moderate rainfall, and the surrounding neighborhoods have also been affected by the same problem, with backyards being turned into swamps, basements flooded, and overall quality of life diminished by the unwise decision by the town in 1965 to construct the school in a completely unsuitable location.

Fast forward to today, and it appears Bristol and Warren town leaders are heading down that same foolish path, believing that the current site of the existing high school is the only viable parcel to move forward with. While that might be the cheapest option, I vehemently disagree with the proposed location of the new school, and when looking at the estimated cost of $200 million to construct the proposed new school, to tack on a few more million dollars to purchase a privately owned parcel of land that does not sit on a swamp makes much more sense than rebuilding and having the same or exacerbated flooding problems for another 60 years.

Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, and if the towns of Bristol and Warren decide on building a new high school at the current location, they'll definitely be proving Einstein right once again.

Mike Proto
245 Chestnut St.