There's one thing you can say for proponents of the two Monroe school referendum questions: They got their message out.
From yard signs plastered around town to online videos to flyers in the door to speakers at local community groups, the district has carefully and methodically laid out its case for two referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday.
And there's a reason you've seen so much support for the school vote and nary a word of opposition: These referendums deserve your vote Tuesday.
The first of the two questions seeks to exceed the state-imposed revenue limit by $1.5 million each year for three years - this will be used to maintain educational services and programming. The additional money is needed to help the district keep pace with a decrease in the district's revenue limit per child.
The second question seeks $460,000 each year for the next three years for various projects, including installing security cameras at the middle school and the three elementary schools, and installing card readers at elementary schools' main entrances for better security. The money would also pay for roof and other repairs at Parkside Elementary and the middle school, as well as refurbish the middle school clock tower. It would pay to replace the 20-year-old district phone system and purchase two new trucks to replace 12-year-old vehicles.
The requests are not extravagant. They are much needed - and in the case of improved security measures, absolutely vital for the protection of our children.
The cost of the referendum questions will be felt. If both questions pass, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay almost $106 more in school taxes next year than they did this year, according to the district's latest numbers provided last week.
We as a community can wield the popular battle cry of "trim the fat!" but the sad reality is that any excess that may have existed was cut away long ago. There's nothing else to cut. Anything more and we will be endangering the quality of our public school system.
And that's not good for the health of the community overall. A vital school system is an important draw for young families - the type of workers we need to attract and retain in Monroe. We need strong schools, and increasing class sizes and cutting classes and programs - as the district would be forced to do if the referendum fails - is not the way to do that.
The last time Monroe passed a referendum was in spring 2007. That measure expired in the 2010-11 school year, and the district has been making do ever since. The referendum process can be an agonizing process that brings out animosity, but it appears, sadly, to be the new norm for school funding throughout the state.
For the well-being of our students, our schools and our community, we encourage voters to support the two Monroe school district referendums Tuesday.
From yard signs plastered around town to online videos to flyers in the door to speakers at local community groups, the district has carefully and methodically laid out its case for two referendum questions on the ballot Tuesday.
And there's a reason you've seen so much support for the school vote and nary a word of opposition: These referendums deserve your vote Tuesday.
The first of the two questions seeks to exceed the state-imposed revenue limit by $1.5 million each year for three years - this will be used to maintain educational services and programming. The additional money is needed to help the district keep pace with a decrease in the district's revenue limit per child.
The second question seeks $460,000 each year for the next three years for various projects, including installing security cameras at the middle school and the three elementary schools, and installing card readers at elementary schools' main entrances for better security. The money would also pay for roof and other repairs at Parkside Elementary and the middle school, as well as refurbish the middle school clock tower. It would pay to replace the 20-year-old district phone system and purchase two new trucks to replace 12-year-old vehicles.
The requests are not extravagant. They are much needed - and in the case of improved security measures, absolutely vital for the protection of our children.
The cost of the referendum questions will be felt. If both questions pass, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay almost $106 more in school taxes next year than they did this year, according to the district's latest numbers provided last week.
We as a community can wield the popular battle cry of "trim the fat!" but the sad reality is that any excess that may have existed was cut away long ago. There's nothing else to cut. Anything more and we will be endangering the quality of our public school system.
And that's not good for the health of the community overall. A vital school system is an important draw for young families - the type of workers we need to attract and retain in Monroe. We need strong schools, and increasing class sizes and cutting classes and programs - as the district would be forced to do if the referendum fails - is not the way to do that.
The last time Monroe passed a referendum was in spring 2007. That measure expired in the 2010-11 school year, and the district has been making do ever since. The referendum process can be an agonizing process that brings out animosity, but it appears, sadly, to be the new norm for school funding throughout the state.
For the well-being of our students, our schools and our community, we encourage voters to support the two Monroe school district referendums Tuesday.
