School vote is good for entire community

We urge the Barrington 220 community to vote yes for the 220 school district referendum. That vote is a relatively easy decision if you have children currently in the schools. But what if you don't? In our case, our last child will graduate before any improvements occur. We could vote No to save a few dollars in the short term, but we believe that would be a mistake which would have long-term repercussions in terms of property values, the strength of our schools, and the overall appeal of the Barrington community.

Why? Suburban property values are substantially tied to the caliber and appeal of the public schools. Comparable districts like New Trier and Stevenson provide their communities with modernized and frequently updated school facilities, and those districts enjoy very strong property values. District 220 must make improvements to keep both education and home values strong. We need physical buildings that are up to date, athletic and arts spaces that meet students' needs and provide community resources, and safe and secure buildings where people feel comfortable sending their children to school. For a very small cost, which should be about $50 per year for a $250,000 home or $100 for a home worth $500,000, we can achieve all of the above improvements. The current referendum might not give us everything the students need, but it's a very good compromise between strengthening our schools and being mindful of our wallets.

As taxpayers and residents of District 220, we carefully watch how the district spends our money. We've looked at this closely, and it is a thoughtful and responsible plan that addresses urgent needs and provides for the future. Please come out on April 2 and vote yes for 220. Whether the people in your house are 2 or 82, they will all benefit in some way from improving our schools and strengthening our community and its resources.

David Cook and Kristina Anderson

Barrington