Next Tuesday, Aug. 6, the voters of USD 105 will make a monumental decision for the future of our school district and community. Since the fire on June 5, 2023, we have been in a state of unknown of how we will move forward as a school district. After many meetings and two community surveys, the USD 105 Board of Education passed a resolution for an election for the purpose of issuing bonds to rebuild our district in one Kindergarten through 12th grade school. Understandably, this has brought questions as patrons in our community have educated themselves on the new building and the costs associated with its construction.
As we work through the technical aspects of the new school, we also need to look at why our financial sacrifices are needed at this time. As a principal, I was alone in my school for a month during the COVID closures in the spring of 2020. I quickly found that a school is not built through its classrooms and hallways, the foundation of the school are the students, staff, and community members who walk through those hallways everyday. With this new school, our students will have greater learning opportunities. Our staff will benefit through a new identify in one school through collaboration and unity. Our students and staff have already grown through our situation. The resilience gained through our situation will benefit our community for years to come. I can see the resilience in our students every day. Whether in the classroom, field, or court or through activities, I see students who never give up and who continually work through obstacles. I see a staff who came together this past year through our situation. They worked countless hours to support our students and ensure they get the education and school experience they deserve. Our community has supported our district through volunteering and through monetary donations.
Please vote. This is an extremely important decision for our community as we continue to move forward from the fire. The decision to move forward as a unified K-12th grade school was not made lightly and is the best way to meet the needs of our students, staff and community. This school is an opportunity to transform the education of our students for the next several generations. Thank you!