Letter: Investment in children

In 2016 I served on a volunteer Facilities Committee for District 41. This facilities committee was made up of approximately 30 community members, and we met for several months as we discussed the district's facility needs. Some committee members had children attending one of the four elementary schools or middle school, some members had children who graduated from the D41 schools like me and some residents did not have children or their children attended other elementary or middle schools.

The Facilities Committee supported improvements that needed to be made to Hadley Middle School including new student learning spaces and additional classrooms. We had the opportunity to see architectural designs and gave feedback to the architects and the district.

Ultimately, the renovation plan for Hadley was approved by the community in a referendum and the students and staff at Hadley are the beneficiaries of the support that the community provided.

The proposed referendum now on the Nov. 8 ballot would maintain smaller class sizes, implement a full-day kindergarten program like our fellow districts and build an early elementary addition for our youngest learners. For over 20 years, parents and community members have studied, served on facility committees and identified space as the number one need. Our school buildings are assets requiring maintenance and upgrades.

My children finished in D41 over 12 years ago. Now my neighbor's children are attending D41 elementary schools they should have a learning environment that meets their needs. I enthusiastically support this referendum to complete the facility study that began more than 25 years ago. This referendum is an investment in our children and our community and will ensure that all of the communities served by District 41 will continue to be communities that value the education of our children today and in the future.

Barry Nelson

Wheaton