Proponents 'Building For Their Future'

So what's it worth to the people of McCook School District 17 to have adequate grade school buildings, not only now, but for years to come? When boiled down to the bare essentials, that's the question voters will be answering May 11th when they cast their ballots on a $5.8 million school bond issue.

If passed, the bond issue will result in the remodeling and expansion of the current North Ward structure to accommodate all of the public school pupils from pre-school through the third grade.

With the decision only a month away, the school bond promotion team -- called the "Building For Their Future Committee" -- is gearing up to get the message out to as many of the district's 5,859 voters as possible.

Small in number at this point, but mighty in passion and purpose, the group is preparing to print brochures, go door-to-door and speak to as many groups as possible within the next four weeks.

"This is such an important decision for the children and this community's future," said Tom Bredvick, who is heading up the speaker's bureau. "We have an opportunity to provide a good learning environment for our children at a time of historic low interest rates. We believe in this project and will be doing all we can to get the facts in front of the voters."

Tom has already lined up talks to the Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist clubs and the Leadership McCook Alumni group. He invites other interested organizations to give him a call at work, 345-4240, or at home, 345-4606. "If I can't be there, someone else will. We want the people of the McCook area to know why this bond issue is so important."

Meanwhile, other dedicated members of the "Building For Their Future" Committee" are going full speed ahead on their parts of the promotional campaign. Sharleen Crowe is heading up the printing of an information-packed brochure; Becky Kilpatrick and Linda Grabowski are leading the door-to-door canvassing campaign; Chris Hansen is accepting donations as the treasurer; and Martha Roe is serving as call central, coordinating messages at 345-3307.

The core committee of volunteers are all parents of school children. As such, they are acutely aware of the deteriorating condition of the East Ward facility and the need for expanded classrooms to meet the needs of today's students.

As a banker, Bredvick said he's impressed by how economically the school project can be accomplished. "For a family whose home is valued at $75,000, the added cost for the bond will be only a nickel a day," Bredvick said.

To join in support of the school bond campaign, volunteers are invited to call Martha Roe at 345-3307. "We need your help," Bredvick said. "We are building for our children's future and there will never a better time than now to do it."