A vote for safety, growth and the future

Our community is at a turning point. The choices we make today will define the future of our children, our neighborhoods and our home values. Will we invest in safer, updated schools — or will we allow outdated, overcrowded buildings to put our kids at risk and drag our property values down?

Right now, our schools are bursting at the seams. Teachers conduct lessons in hallways, stairwells and makeshift spaces. And in just a few years, the state’s unfunded all-day kindergarten mandate will add even more students. Where will they go? We have no space left.

But space isn’t the only issue — our schools lack critical safety features. Other communities have upgraded their schools with secure entrances, safer layouts, and enhanced security systems. District 23 has not. That means our children and teachers are more vulnerable than they could be. In today’s world, that’s simply unacceptable.

District 23 has always been a careful steward of taxpayer dollars, operating with a balanced budget and the lowest fund balance in the region. But Eisenhower, Betsy Ross, Sullivan and MacArthur — schools that have served generations — can no longer provide the extremely secure, high-quality learning environments our kids deserve.

This referendum is not just about improving education. It is about ensuring the safety of our children, strengthening our neighborhoods and protecting our community’s future.

And what does this investment mean for taxpayers? Approximately $349 per year, or less than a dollar per day.

Let’s put that in perspective. Property values in Prospect Heights have dropped 2% in the past year, while home values in Wheeling (+10%) and Mount Prospect (+6%) — communities that have already invested in their schools — have surged. These communities have already chosen to invest in their schools, and the results speak for themselves. The difference? Stronger, better-funded schools lead to stronger property values.

If this referendum passes, a home valued at $290,000 could see a 6% increase — an additional $17,400 in value. That’s a staggering 2,503% return on investment. You won’t find a smarter financial decision anywhere.

And there’s no time to waste. Every day we delay, costs rise. Construction prices climb. The longer we wait, the more we pay — for the same improvements.

This is our moment to act. A vote for this referendum is a vote for safer schools, stronger property values and a better future for our children.

• Libby Zito is an event technology consultant, mother of two, District 23 volunteer and an active member of the district PTO. Natasha Raginskiy is a District 23 parent, school and park district volunteer and a marketing director with experience in research and writing. Alex Raginskiy, Tom Zito and Mike and Christi Malek also contributed to this essay.