Dear editor,
It seems odd to me that whenever someone has a different point of view they are described as negative, cynical, and practicing dissent.
Maybe we could use some other terms to describe people with a different point of view. Such as they have common sense, they are fiscally responsible and yes, they may even be a positive person.
When John McRae became mayor of Iola we had a lot more money in the bank, millions as I remember. We had more private businesses, we had a larger population, we had more industry.
What we didnt have is a new grocery store, a new water plant, new generators, a new hospital, and new low- income housing instead of a golf course.
These shiny things that were waved out in front of all the positive people that decided they would save Iola, in my common sense opinion are not working.
This is the proof that I have, maybe you can prove to me Im wrong.
With that being said, let me address the school issue. It makes perfect sense to me that all grade school-aged kids should go to the same school.
Most of you may not know this, but my kids went to every grade school Iola had to offer. You see, my kids were bussed to school, so whenever one school would fill up, or whatever reason they had, they would just bus them to a different school.
I found out there was a huge difference in the way the schools conducted business. Let me be very blunt, when they decided to bus one of my sons to McKindley I thought I had had enough, but I decided not to push the issue. What I found out was that the administrator there was running a much better school than the other two.
Thats when I learned that its not so much the neighborhood or the building, but its the people that make the difference.
So to make it equal for all the kids I think the only solution is to put them under one roof. Now if this means we must build a new school, then so be it. Dont try and tell me its to clean up the town, for economic development, to bring doctors to town, to turn the population decline around these are the shiny objects youre trying to dangle in front of me. My fiscally responsible common sense wont let me swallow that pill.
Just tell me its for the kids.
Don Erbert,
Iola, Kan.
