Time to look to the future in District 75
As a matter of both practicality and pride, I strongly urge voters to vote yes on Feb. 5 for both bond referendums aimed at securing funds for repairs to District 75 schools.
It is time for voters in Mundelein, regardless of whether or not they have a child in a District 75 school, to look toward the future and approve this funding, if only because this year, even with approval of the referendum, we will enjoy a decrease in our taxes.
In the past, voters in Mundelein have often rejected school funding measures that have appeared on the ballot, and opposition to allocating funds for our schools often rides a wave of anti-tax rhetoric. But sometimes Mundelein also seems to suffer from a case of subconscious low self-esteem. We see ourselves as living in the shadow of more affluent towns, and time and again we choose to deny our community the same benefits those places enjoy. The result is both a lower profile for the village and lower property values.
Through the tremendous effort of dedicated administration and staff, the schools in the district have managed to provide students with a loving, safe and nurturing environment in which to learn, despite the rapidly declining facilities in which they are limited. But once again we have the opportunity to match the efforts of students and teachers with the material support they deserve.
What's at issue this time is not so controversial: voters will find on Feb. 5 that the bond referendum is not about district restructuring, or curriculum, or teacher pay. Rather, the bond referendum is simply about repairing the schools themselves -- schools that in some cases have leaking roofs, antiquated plumbing and boilers and no air conditioning, as well as hazardous asbestos that needs to be removed.
As any real estate agent will tell you, one of the first things a potential home buyer wants to know about a community is the quality of the schools. It's simply a barometer of a town's value as a place to live.
Making needed repairs to District 75 schools will enhance the value of our homes and bring our schools up to par with those in surrounding areas.
John Carpender
Mundelein