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Letter to the editor – Bahr
To the editor,
I want to express my support for the renovation of our high school facility – not only to provide a better educational environment for our students, but also to strengthen and enhance our entire community.
I have visited schools in Humboldt, Iowa Falls and Clear Lake and have seen firsthand the significant renovations those communities have made to their school facilities. Their schools have become a source of pride and a major selling point for their communities. It reinforced for me that when we invest in our schools, we are investing in much more than buildings. We are investing in our students, families, businesses and community.
We know that the quality of the local schools is often near the top of the list when families are deciding where they want to live and work. We have had prospective parents visit our schools to learn about the quality of education and the diverse offerings we can provide for their children. In a changing world, we need both quality educational programs and top notch facilities that support these programs and prepare our students for the future.
This facility is not simply an investment in our schools – it is an investment in our community and in the people that we hope will choose our community in the future.
When I came to this community in 1978, one of the qualities I observed was the strong connection among our schools, parents, businesses and community. People supported one another. I believe we need to ask ourselves: How can this project help us strengthen that sense of community again?
I also have confidence that our Board administrators, committees and community members will carefully consider the options and make sound decisions as this process moves forward. Ultimately, the board has the responsibility to determine what is best for our students, taxpayers and community as a whole.
As I understand it, the board is asking voters to extend the existing PPEL, rather than approve an additional tax. PPEL funds are used for the maintenance, improvement and construction of the district’s physical facilities.
Previous generations in our community have supported our schools through the passing of bond issues and the continuation of PPEL. We have benefited from the investments they were willing to make.
NBow it is our opportunity to continue that tradition, not only for the students in our schools today, but for the generations of students, families and community members who will follow us.
When we invest in our schools, we invest in the future of our entire community.
Dennis Bahr
Retired High School Principal and Superintendent
Webster City