Guest column: The case for Barrington Dist. 220's referendum question

Barrington 220 voters have the opportunity to make a smart investment for our future by voting "YES" on the bond referendum on April 2. Your vote is needed: for our kids, our community, and our future.

Passing this referendum will improve our district's school safety, infrastructure, and will invest in the future of our community.

Safety: Barrington 220's schools were built in a simpler time but, unfortunately, our schools need to be prepared for today's dangers and complexity. Passing this referendum would allow for interior and exterior security enhancements including the removal of mobile classrooms.

Infrastructure: Passing this referendum will allow for needed repairs and renovations to aging building systems such as heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and roofs. Furthermore, it would allow for the creation of classroom space to support students with special needs and the renovation of kitchen/cafeteria space at all schools in the district.

Investment: Needed improvements of classroom space and the Barrington High School auditorium and athletics spaces will benefit the entire community. These investments will help keep Barrington from falling behind surrounding districts with improvements like these already in place.

As taxpayers and residents, it is our job to make sure that our money is spent wisely. This referendum comes at a very reasonable cost with taxes increasing only $100 per year for a $500,000 home. Furthermore, the Barrington School Board members are proven financial stewards holding a hard-to-get AAA bond rating as well as producing a balanced budget for the past 22 years.

Furthermore, passing this referendum comes with a large return on a smart investment.

As suburban property values largely correlate with the quality of schools, failure to pass this referendum will have long-term repercussions in terms of property values, the strength of our schools and the overall health of our community.

Please join us in voting "YES for 220." For more information, visit the district website, our 'Yes for 220' website www.yesfor220.com , as well as our 'Yes for 220' Facebook page www.facebook.com/Yesfor220.

Passing this referendum will provide a safe and secure environment that our children need, maintain a strong community with growing property values, as well as ensure a bright and successful future for our children and our community.

Wendy Farley, of Barrington, is co-chair of the citizen's group Yes for 220. She is a former Barrington Unit School District 220 school board member, and she was a member of a citizens committee formed to consider the referendum from the Blueprint 220 project.

Robert Windon, of Barrington, is a former member of the Barrington village board. He is co-chair of the Yes for 220 citizen's group.