Board, public have vital role in bond vote

Three months from today -- on May 11, 2004 -- the voters of McCook School District 17 will decide whether to create a $5.8 million, single-site elementary school on the North Ward property.

Less than 90 days are left until that election, so the McCook school board is stepping up the pace, preparing to let the people of District 17 know why the need for a new school is so urgent.

After two defeats on higher-priced earlier bond issues, encouraging signs are beginning to emerge. This time, it appears the board is doing things the right way. To begin with, this plan was not concocted by architectural firms from large cities. This plan rose up from the people, and was crafted into a workable solution by a McCook architect, David Wilson, who was educated in McCook schools and returned here for his architectural career.

Yes, the bond issue is going to cost $5.8 million, but that's half as much as the first school building plan that was placed on the ballot. And, besides that, according to Wilson and Superintendent of Schools Don Marchant, the single site plan will cut down the district's operational and maintenance costs. That's because the school district's two oldest buildings -- West and East -- would no longer be in use. West is already out of use, and East would be, too, if the bond issue passes and K-3 pupils start going to the new McCook Elementary School at the North Ward location.

Another positive sign is that the board has been locally minded in the selection of professionals to help with the design and the bond campaign. W Design Associates, with Wilson in a lead role, is doing the building designs and specifications, and the financial advisors -- Kirkpatrick Pettis of Omaha -- will be working with two McCook investment agents, Ken Wellman and Ron Friehe of Edward Jones, in developing and presenting financial plans. Wellman says the local involvement is crucial. Should the bond issue pass, he says there would be opportunities locally to place some of the bonds.

That's good. The McCook community and neighboring districts need to look at the bond issue from all angles, deciding if this is the right time, and if this is the right way to go about providing for McCook's elementary school needs.

So far, so good. The McCook School District 17 board and local consultants are proceeding in a sensible fashion.

The next three months will be crucial. During that time, the school district has the responsibility of putting clear and complete information before the public, and the people, in turn, have the responsibility of studying the issues and deciding what, ultimately, is in the best interests of themselves, their families, this school district and this community.