Get the facts on Batavia school vote

I am asking voters in Batavia School District 101 to please cast your ballot as a resident and a voter and get the facts on the issuance of $15 million alternate revenue bonds to fund capital improvement plan projects.

It frustrates me that a community that holds its students in such high regard is willing to turn its back on them in such an important topic. I have witnessed countless Batavia kids compete in all types of outdoor sports and activities. They are forced to use less than adequate fields. Frankly, some areas are embarrassing; we are starved for field space.

At Batavia High School, we expanded music, drama and the arts by adding a wonderful fine arts facility - but at the expense of outdoor facilities.

Batavia Youth Football averages roughly 550 players annually. This year's fifth and sixth grade league boasted a record number of participants, nearly 200. These kids soon will be in high school.

There are other aspects to this advisory question: addition of two synthetic turf fields, installation of a new track, upgrading baseball and softball fields and lighting. All are long overdue; over 300 students practice off campus.

Batavia High School was built in 1969 on 46 acres. Initially, a 225,000 square foot building took care of 600 students. The building has grown to 525,000 square feet serving 2,000 students. The campus still is land-locked on 46 acres. These projects have been in the planning stage for more than two years. Stakeholders have voiced their opinions. There has been a variety of conflicting information presented.

Help Batavia bolster its image as a place that works for a common cause. This vote speaks for Batavia's future. "We Are One" does not speak for only a football program, it speaks for an entire city.

Michael Popela

Aurora

President,

Batavia Youth Football