Referendum loss would be devastating
There are many reasons to vote "yes" on Nov. 6 for the high school referendum, but I will keep this short and give you one of the main reasons-property value.
Realtors will tell you that one of the most important factors in assessing property value is school strength/ranking. The schools are dilapidated and being held together with duck tape. If this referendum fails, the board will have no choice but to carve out funds from the operating budget to pay for needed and mandatory repairs.
What that means is that a "no" vote does not keep everything status quo. A "no" vote is cutting AP classes, extracurriculars, band options and increasing class sizes. These are all things that directly impact school rankings.
Hinsdale Central was built in the 1950s. We have not had a referendum since 1962 and 100 percent of those funds went to build Hinsdale South. Imagine living in a house that was built in 1950 without any meaningful renovations in almost 70 years.
This is the fact. If this fails, the news channels will have a headline that reads something like, "Hinsdale schools cannot pass much needed referendum leading to cuts". Many are watching to see how this vote plays out.
A "no" vote will be devastating to our property values.
New Trier just completed a $104 million renovation and their property values have popped. Downers Grove did the same thing. We need to keep pace.
Get out and vote and encourage your neighbors as well. Oak Park lost their recent referendum by 13 votes. Every vote matters.
Nick Galassi
Hinsdale