We the parent members of Bowman Open Optional Program collectively agree that expansion would make it difficult to continue the philosophy and traditions put into place in 1975 when our program started at Abbott Loop Elementary at the urging of parents. We value teacher collaboration. We value family involvement. We value a small community where teachers, families and children know each other and work together to achieve success in a safe learning environment. The community develops through the many activities shared by students, families and teachers across grades. Expanding our program would make it impossible to continue many of those activities. As a result, our program would lose many of the very characteristics that make it so successful and desirable. This petition signed by the parents of Bowman Open Optional program, is to inform the board that as a collective whole we are against expansion of our program.