Well it appears the Girard School bond issue did not pass.
I voted no and I feel that now I will tell the world why. I hope that no one will judge me for my decision just as I am not about to judge those that were in favor of it.
I support education, I love my child and I want her to have the best education possible. With that said, I was 100% for the additions to Haderlein. I think they need a new library, I think they need a new cafeteria and I most definately think they need all-day kindergarten. These things would benefit all students that attend that school.
With that said, I will continue on as to why I did not support the issue.
The changes at the high school were 80% athletic related. There was to be a new art room, a commons area and then a "community" center and more "athletic" related facets. Not all students are athletes, but all students do benefit from classroom improvements and I would have been all for that.
I just feel that those who proposed the bond KNEW that the only chance of the community center and all of that passing would be to put that on the bond with Haderlein. If they could have just done Haderlein, it would have passed, our taxes would have not increased that much, we'd get the improvements we NEEDED.
I also feel that it would be different if Girard was booming and growing and busting out the doors of the school. Right now, that is not the issue at all.
I still love my town and I still love my alma mater. I am proud to have graduated from Girard High School. It has long been known (and still is, with or without the bond) as one of the best school districts in this area.
Sure I could have sacrificed and afforded the higher taxes had I supported the ENTIRE bond but on a personal level I did not. I am sorry it did not pass for Haderlein's sake, but that was a chance that the administrators had to take when the put it all together on the ballot. I am proud to be a member of this community and hope that I am not banished for the way that I felt. I know and love many of the people that were STRONGLY in favor of the issue. I would have been ok with either outcome. I obviously didn't vote for Rock Abama and he is now the president and life goes on and we deal with it, which would have definately been the case in this issue.
I just don't want our town to be divided. I think if those who designed the bond would have really listened to the people and HEARD that they did support the education additions but not the athletic ones, then at least we would be celebrating some sort of victory tonight.
(Ok and dont kill me for bashing athletics b/c i do know it is a VERY important part of many students lives. I enjoy attending the games and love watching our kids play. I just think that we have 2 gyms and a recently remodeled weight room now, do we really need another gym and racquetball courts?)
Anyway, I still love my town, I still love being a Trojan, I still have faith in our teachers, school board and staff. I STILL want to be a part of this community, I think we just have to work together and compromise.
