What a yes vote means to Batavia

On Nov. 4, Batavians will have the opportunity to cast a yes vote for an advisory question for Batavia Public Schools.

A yes vote means that 24 high priority capital improvement projects at district schools can be completed now. These improvements include health and safety projects, energy savings projects, safety and security. By taking care of these projects in the near term, the district will save money on costly repairs to keep aging equipment operational. A complete list of these high priority projects is available at www.bps101.net.

A yes vote means that key upgrades to the Batavia High School outdoor facilities can be completed. Yes, this includes two turf fields but those fields are far from the most important piece. The priority of the outdoor plan is the safety of our student athletes. In addition, the plan preserves the arboretum and puts the stormwater detention areas underground.

A yes vote brings our students back onto our high school campus. The marching band crosses Main Street every day to practice at the church, soccer players head to HC Storm to practice, and the lacrosse team to the middle school. All of these trips off campus put these students at undue risk for an accident. This is a huge liability for our school district and one that would be alleviated with the improvements to our outdoor facilities.

A yes vote means that all of these improvements can be accomplished without an increase in taxes. The bonds will be paid back from existing revenues, much the same as we, as homeowners, pay our mortgages.

I love Batavia. I was born and raised here and have chosen to raise my own family here.

Deborah Nelson

Batavia