From John Daane

Monroe

To the Editor: 

As a retired Northside educator, I am writing to encourage public support for the referendum on April 6.

I was teaching music in Monroe in January of 1968 and was assigned to teach grades 4-6 in the newly opened Northside school (Mrs. Gordee had grades 1-3). When I retired in 2013, I was the last of the original Northside teachers to do so. I enjoyed many fine students in my classes there over those many years. I was most grateful when the building additions approved in 2000 finally provided me a music room after more than 30 years teaching in the cafeteria!

As with homes, updates (a roof, siding, heating and air conditioning, CAT and network wiring) are needed to keep a building viable for its most effective use by our students today. This is especially important for Northside as the oldest of our 3 elementary schools. Its size and configuration have allowed Northside to be very adaptable over the years, including housing extra classes in its multi-purpose rooms after the Lincoln School fire and when district enrollment spiked.

Please join me in voting YES for the cost-effective referendum to update our Northside School facility.  Thank you!