Parents,

Every generation has the opportunity to leave things better than they found it. For our community, that responsibility is on the ballot. 

Tomorrow, voters will have the opportunity to approve a $40 million “no tax rate increase” bond issue that will transform our schools — not through higher taxes, but through smart, strategic investment that our long-range facility planning committee has carefully developed over years of study and community input. The bond issue does extend the current debt for six years, but does not raise the current debt service levy.

This is not a wish list. It is a roadmap built on data, professional assessments, and a deep commitment to the students, teachers, and families who depend on our schools every single day.

Modernizing Seven Elementary Schools

At the heart of this bond proposal are critical upgrades to seven of our oldest elementary schools. The improvements go far beyond cosmetic changes to address the fundamental needs of a modern learning environment.

First and foremost, these projects will significantly enhance safety and security. Upgraded security vestibules in several schools will create more controlled entry points, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access our buildings. This is a baseline obligation we owe every family in our district.

Beyond safety, the bond will fund standardized, purpose-built rooms across all seven schools. Today, not every school has the same types of spaces for kindergarten and preschool learners, or adequate, dedicated classrooms for special education students who deserve individualized environments suited to their unique needs. The bond will change that, creating consistency and parity across the district.

Research has long confirmed that the arts are inseparable from a complete education. These improvements will include dedicated art and music rooms — not converted stages or shared rooms, but genuine, well-equipped spaces where creativity can flourish. Students who have access to quality arts instruction perform better academically, develop stronger social skills, and carry those lessons with them for life.

Library improvements will also be included, giving students the reading and research resources they need to become independent, curious learners. And practical improvements like improved parent pick-up and drop-off lanes and updated parking facilities will make the daily school routine safer and less stressful for the thousands of families who rely on these schools each morning.

Our physical education program currently operates in a constrained space that limits what teachers can offer students. Expanded PE facilities will allow for more varied, engaging, and effective instruction without taking space away from other school needs. Expanded weight rooms will support student needs year-round and reinforce healthy habits that serve young people well beyond graduation.  

The new facility will also provide a year-round, weather-proof home for programs that currently struggle without adequate indoor space. Our JROTC cadets, band members, and archery team will have facilities worthy of their dedication and discipline. Our full athletic program — from pre-season conditioning to in-season practice — will benefit from a space that allows training to continue regardless of the weather. In a region where spring rain, summer heat and humidity, and winter cold can derail outdoor schedules, this is a practical and long-overdue solution.

These are programs that build character, instill discipline, and give students a sense of pride and belonging while keeping them invested in their education. Our students deserve the space to engage in team time instead of screen time to encourage a future they can be proud of.

We know that asking voters to approve a bond issue comes with an implicit question: what will this cost me? The answer, in this case, is straightforward: this bond is structured as a no-tax-rate-increase proposal. Your tax rate will not go up. This is possible because of careful financial planning by our administration and board, who have worked to ensure the district can absorb this investment within its existing fiscal framework.

This proposal was not developed overnight or in isolation. It is the product of a long-range facility planning committee made up of community members, industry leaders, educators, administrators, and board members who spent more than two years assessing our buildings, identifying critical needs, prioritizing projects, and modeling the financial impact. Their work represents the best kind of civic engagement: thoughtful, transparent, and oriented toward what is best for children.

An Investment in Students, Staff, and Community

It is easy to forget that school buildings are more than brick and mortar. They are the environments where children spend the majority of their waking hours during their most formative years. The quality of those environments has real consequences for learning outcomes, for teacher retention, and for the sense of pride students and staff feel in their school community.

Teachers do their best work when they have the tools and spaces to support their students effectively. Special education teachers need appropriate classrooms. Music teachers need dedicated rooms, not traveling carts. Coaches and ROTC instructors need space to run safe, effective programs in all weather. This bond gives our educators what they need to do their jobs at the highest level.

For our community as a whole, well-maintained and modernized schools are a signal that this is a place that invests in its people. Strong schools attract families, support property values, and anchor the identity of a community. When we invest in our schools, we invest in everything that makes our town worth calling home.

Become Informed — Then Go Vote

We ask you to be informed. Visit our website. Ask questions of your school board members or administrators. Read the long-range facility committee's full report found on the district website. This bond has nothing to hide. The planning is thorough, the needs are real, and the financials are sound.

Whether you are the parent of a kindergartner, a grandparent proud of this community's history, a business owner who depends on a strong local workforce, or a lifelong resident who simply wants to see the next generation succeed, your voice has a place in this decision.