School bond elections are always a big deal. No matter what town – you’re bound to find plenty opinions on the subject and maybe even a few heated debates. But no debate can compare to the one the occurred in 1993 in the 6th grade classroom of Blue Hill Elementary School.
OK. It wasn’t picked up by the press or anything – but to me, it was a big deal.
Our teacher let us discuss our opinions on the school bond vote taking place that day. Up for grabs? A merger that would create one big school in Webster county. If passed, four schools would merge into one powerhouse education system.
I couldn’t wait to open my 12-year-old mouth and share my opinion on the subject.
There was reason behind my opinion. My dad was on the school board and helped create this proposal. It was needed. Two of the four schools were in danger of shutting their doors. Small towns were simply getting smaller and something had to be done.
The class was split that day, just like the county. You could easily tell which parents were for and against the merger by listening to the opinions held by my classmates. The arguments were similar to ones you hear today.
“That’s too far for me to drive!”
“Why would I want to go to school with them?”
“What’s wrong with the school we have now?”
Those of us for the merger responded with -
“Think of the future. This is needed.”
“I want a quality education.”
“People are already driving so far to school. This is the best and only option.”
I knew it was a big deal. For months I watched my dad come home late from school board meetings. Mom and dad kept me away from most negative comments, but I still heard a few. The press came out to our farm one evening and threw a few controversial questions at dad. He answered them with a polite confidence just as I knew he would.
You should know my dad. I know I’m bias, but he is one of the best guys you’ll ever meet. All he wanted was a quality education for his girls, for the community he lived in and for the county our family had called home since the early 1900s. He saw the future. He knew the need. Although he is a quiet man, he wouldn’t hold his tongue when it came to his kids and the education they deserved.
The class voted in favor of the merger that day. Unfortunately, the real outcome wasn’t so sweet. Three towns voted yes for the bond, one town – my town – voted no. We needed all four to agree for it to pass. That didn’t happen.
The result?
Eventually two of those four schools had to shut their doors for good. As for me? I had to take 16 credit hours of a foreign language in college because my small school didn’t offer enough – among other things. The teachers did the best they could with what they had.
I’m sure you know why I bring this up. There is a big vote coming in the Kearney Public School system next Tuesday. It’s not a merger, but it is causing a few debates around town. A vote yes, would build a new high school in the southwest part of Kearney.
You can guess how I feel about it.
My opinion has and always will be a resounding yes when the outcome means better opportunities for the future. I’ve heard the negative comments. They are the same as they’ve always been although now they come from a different town, with different people.
“It’s too far to drive,” they say.
“What’s wrong with what we have now?” they argue.
And the new one, which makes me smile, “You are spoiling your kids with such new things.”
I hope so.
All I want for my kids and the new generation of kids after them – is better than what I had – than what we all had. Trust the administration when they say this is the best opportunity for our kids – because it is. There’s no doubt in my mind.
My dad did all he could to get that school bond merger passed. While the outcome wasn’t what he had hoped, he taught me something even greater in the process. I won’t keep quiet when it comes to my kids and their future. I don’t think you will either. This is important for them and for generations to come. Vote yes for a better future. Our kids deserve better.
Feature image from one of my favorite sites – picmonkey!