Let's make District 15 an even better district

I'm writing in response to your recent article on Sept. 30, headlined, "Video adds to District 15 referendum controversy."

The intent of this referendum is to bring many needed improvements to our already wonderful school district and I don't feel like that information is making it through in your recent stories.

Our family moved to Palatine nearly three years ago from Chicago. We were drawn to the area for the award-winning schools, safe environment and positive community where our children can grow and thrive. I was disappointed when I learned full day kindergarten was not offered to students in Palatine. For this reason, we are sending our children to private, full-day kindergarten which not only provides them with a more solid educational foundation but also helps fulfill our needs for child care.

The more I educated myself about the referendum, the more I realized how many wonderful programs and opportunities it will bring to our community including:

• Full-day kindergarten through the entire district.

• Adds a community school in an area with a high concentration of children who are currently being bused to seven different schools who could be on a bus for up to an hour each day and not attending school with kids in their own community.

• Adds capacity to all schools by removing grade six and restructuring to a middle school concept.

Our school district has so many wonderful things to offer but this referendum will only help to improve the learning opportunities for our children. Unfortunately for every year we wait to pass a referendum, the price tag on the project increases $5 million a year. We simply can't afford to wait.

Erin Abbey

Palatine