Dear editor,
One of the things I have learned in my short term as mayor is the importance of narrowing down the fundamental question before the voters.
I believe the central question of the current school bond proposal is this: are there major deficiencies in the current three elementary schools, the science building, and the mechanical system at the middle school?
I firmly believe most citizens agree there are indeed major deficiencies. The question then becomes: What should we do about it?
I have seen many good plans fail because competing plans could not find a middle ground. Two sides would not compromise, or three sides would not budge.
This current plan represents over a year of compromise. I will be the first to admit that it is not a perfect plan, but it is a good plan. It will not solve all the facility issues within the district, but the current plan would represent a great step forward.
To those afraid of the mill levy increase: the committee openly debated costs, and this plan was the one that saved the district the most over the next 30 years. Voting no will only make the existing problems worse and more expensive to take care of later.
I also believe the district has long been out of ADA compliance. More importantly, I firmly believe that not only should every student have access to every learning space, but every parent or caretaker who may have a disability should also be able to access their childs learning spaces.
To those who say to fix our schools: One way or another, the schools need repairs, and those repairs will cost money. Renovations will cost almost as much as building new, offer fewer benefits to students, and most of those plans also included annexing private homes and very little operational efficiency savings.
As mayor, I have had to make a number of difficult decisions, but to this day the worst have always involved condemnation. Taking someones home away from them always makes me lose sleep, even if the council votes 8-0.
To those who argue this plan does not go far enough: Im reminded of an old saying, How do you eat an elephant? The answer: One bite at a time. To ask voters to pay for all our districts needs at one time is a monumental task, and voting No for this reason is continuing the downward slide weve been stuck in over the last 27 years.
We must face our current problems, and those we see in the future, together, unified in our mission to improve our community. We must not let perfect get in the way of good. Communities like Iola, Gas, and LaHarpe do not die because they end. They end because good men and women refuse to fight. They end because good men and women do nothing.
Voters, your community has worked very hard to compromise and come up with a good plan for USD 257, and I urge you to join them and support all three propositions on the ballot.
Jon Wells,
Mayor of the City of Iola
