Dear editor,
I have taught in this district for over 20 years and have served on the district’s Facility Planning Committees since 2003. During that time, the committees have discussed and researched many options for our district. We have traveled to many schools to look at their facilities, asked many questions and decided that the best course for our district is to build new schools.
Having seen many new facilities, I am excited about the opportunity to have new schools here in Iola designed for our district’s vision and purpose, buildings that will meet the needs of our community.
I am impressed by the selected building site on Oregon Road. I love the fact that our students will have room to run, play and have practice fields, unlike our land-locked schools we currently have.
I think having the Prairie Spirit Trail is an added bonus to the schools. I have walked the trail many times and know that it would be used for PE, science lessons, class walks, along with students walking to and from school. Garnett Elementary School also borders the Prairie Spirit Trail. When we visited there, the principal said that they used the trail all the time. It is a valuable asset to their school and many students use it to walk to and from school. I know that would be the case with our schools, also.
I am looking forward to having safe, secure schools where all students can have their needs met, including those with disabilities. These schools will be all one level and 100 percent ADA compliant. They will have secured entries and high wind shelters.
I am looking forward to roofs that don’t leak causing saturated ceiling tiles that crash to the floor and buildings without mold down the walls and in the basements.
I am looking forward to having energy efficient schools where the district can save $700,000 each year resulting from lower maintenance and utility costs. That money will go a long way to help increase our technology budget that has been cut 60 percent, the library budgets that have been cut 50 percent to 65 percent, and our curriculum budget that has been only able to buy textbooks once in the past seven years.
I know families will appreciate having all their elementary children at one school. These schools will be designed to have efficient drop-off and pick-up areas for parents and busses. According to the Garnett principal, all their students are picked up in 8½ minutes.
I know when the schools are finished that this community will be proud of what it has accomplished! The schools we visited were well utilized. They hosted many community groups, classes, and activities every day until late at night. These buildings are not just for the students, they are for the community.
I am grateful that we have this opportunity before us to make a bright future for our kids! We can do it with your help and the 51 percent state aid that is available now. We really can’t afford not to do it! Now is the time! We need this for our kids! Please vote YES! for the School Bond and YES! for the 1/2 cent city sales tax. YES! YES! for Our Kids!
Thank you,
Deb Greenwall
Iola, Kan.
