Support sought for C-123 school district
To our fellow Jefferson community members,
We write to you today with words of encouragement to vote on our upcoming bond issue for expansion of our school facilities. With each attempt, we have heard many concerns and much support. We value all opinions. Our own children’s time at JHS is nearly complete, yet we look at the greater picture of our community and see opportunity and success in its continuation.
We are encouraged as we see our youth taking an active role within the Tri-C area. We see young couples returning and buying or building homes –investing in our community. We see young volunteers in the fire department, on the school board, teaching religion, and in community betterment- investing in our community. We see young single alumni starting their own businesses, attending school and church activities- investing in our community. We want to keep them here and keep Jefferson vibrant, so we feel it is essential to invest in those who are the future of our community.
We used to be known as a district that supported our school whenever we needed to pass a bond or a levy. We prided ourselves in taking care of our children in their educational needs. We wonder, is that pride lost, or have we been deceived in thinking that a gym is not part of their educational need? Building a new gym would create more than just an expanded floor for basketball. It allows extra classroom space, more permanent place for the creative arts, open space for science experiments and group activities in the existing gym. We have made improvements in the 60-year-old gym frugally and out of necessity.
We believe our kids would now benefit from a new building that will be structurally sound, changing rooms that are not crumbling and expanded room for curriculum or the performing arts. We believe our patrons would benefit from added space to watch the students perform in ALL activities. A larger gym would help alleviate maneuvering over feet, coats, bags and around tightly packed bodies or just avoiding others sitting on the steps- all made more worrisome as we watch grandparents do the same.
If the bond issue passes and you own property within the school district, your taxes will rise. That is a fact that cannot be changed. Every community pays property taxes that go toward operating the school. Other districts around us have recently made the investment for their children and thus, their communities. Jefferson also needs that local support. We have been fortunate to have the assistance of the windmill tax base when we have no other industry on which to rely for added income. At the very least, consider the extra taxes you will pay as going toward local betterment, not just to the state or national government where we have little control of its use.
We would like to see our school survive for countless years. There is no perfect school district, but we have capable leaders who spend money wisely and make decisions centered on Jefferson’s excellence and longevity, quality teachers who truly care for our students and intelligent and respectful students who are attentive (just ask our teachers who have taught elsewhere). It is true our numbers are smaller, but we have been pro-active in our co-op activity with other schools. It proves we are willing to adapt and to concede when needed. We see the co-ops as an opportunity to network with others in a variety of activities and this only amplifies the need for an upgraded facility.
We ask you to join us in support of the C-123 school district.
Sincerely,
Raymond and Sharon Meyer
Jefferson School District
