Kaneland needs help with growth
I am writing this letter to encourage all voters to support the Kaneland school district's referendum that will be on the ballot Feb. 5.
The simple fact is that our middle school is overcrowded and the problem is only going to get worse.
By 2009, Kaneland school district will be home to 1,300 middle school students. Our current middle school is built to hold 750.
The growth in our district is going to continue. The district's overall enrollment has increased for each of the last 17 school years. In this school year alone, the middle school enrollment has increased by 12 percent and the district has its largest kindergarten class in history. The Feb. 5 referendum represents the last chance to have the project completed before the start of the 2009-2010 school year.
If we do not act to solve the problem now, we will pay more for the solution later. Since the referendum failed last spring, the cost of the necessary projects has increased by $12 million, from $53 million to $65 million. If the referendum fails it will just become more expensive the next time.
The students and families of the Kaneland school district have been well served by their school district. Students from our schools have become leaders in our community. Their success was made possible by the community's commitment to its schools.
By supporting the referendum Feb. 5, voters will be taking an important step toward continuing that commitment and ensuring that the Kaneland school district has the tools to continue to produce young people that we all can all be proud of.
Bill Mitchinson
Elburn