Editorial

It's time to take responsibility for McCook's future

Friday, April 30, 2004

It's time to take responsibility for the future. It's time to show support for our kids. It's time to approve the elementary school bond issue.

We say this even though we know there's a lot of negative talk in the community. Many are frustrated, as we are, by the town's problems. But, despite that, it's time to turn the tide ... it's time to make a difference ... it's time to step up and vote yes on the $5.8 million elementary school bond issue.

Why now and why this plan? Let's start with five common sense reasons why this is a good way to meet the needs of McCook's elementary and special education students.

1. The plan's practical. McCook's grade schools are deteriorating, especially East Ward, which is 80 years old; not safe enough to meet modern requirements; and not suited for today's educational programs.

2. The plan's local. This proposal grew out of community concern. Concerned citizens didn't like the "Tin Shanties," their name for the modulars being used for added space at the grade schools. So a local architect, David Wilson of W Design Associates, looked at the problem and decided the best common sense solution was to expand North Ward into a single site for pre-school through third grade students.

3. The plan's economical. With prices continuing to rise, prices are as low a price as they're ever going to be for a school building. Besides that, interest rates are at 45-year lows, giving taxpayers the best deal in history on bond rates.

4. The plan's budget-minded. McCook schools have two more payments -- one this year and one next -- to pay for the new windows at the high school. That obligation is costing taxpayers a levy of a little over a dime. That amount will be gone in '06 when the bond levy of 12 cents, or less, is scheduled to go in effect for the elementary building.

5. The plan will save money on utilities, maintenance and repairs. Efficiency's the reason. Instead of paying to heat and maintain three separate buildings -- East Ward, North Ward and the Special Education Center on North Highway 83 -- McCook schools will have to maintain just one. And the expanded building at the North Ward site will be much more energy efficient, with heating costs projected at half, or less, of what it takes to heat East Ward alone.

As important as those reasons are -- from the standpoint of getting our money's worth -- they pale in comparison to the real reason we need this school building. This building is for the kids. This building is for the future.

Our parents and grandparents provided for our education. They built the high school. They built the junior high. They built Central. Now it's our turn. We can put McCook in good shape with its schools for the first part of the 21st Century.

Join in support of the McCook elementary school building. Vote yes May 11. By doing so, you will be investing in our children ... and our community's future.

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