Schools kick off bond issue campaign
Highland schools will have a 3.9-mill bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot
School officials say electrical systems cannot handle classroom technology needs and upgrading them would be cost-prohibitive and inefficient in antiquated buildings. Submitted photo
HIGHLAND – “It’s time to build our future” will be the campaign slogan for the Highland School District bond issue campaign.
School officials have been working behind the scenes for months, including surveying the community to decide how to approach replacing the district’s three aging elementary schools. The campaign was expected to have officially kicked off Sept. 1 and will run through election day Nov. 7, said Dawn Marzano, district director of communications.
Marzano explained a steering committee for the bond issue met for the first time Aug. 16. On that day volunteers were already signing up to chair various campaign committees. Marzano said the steering committee will continue to meet every week up to election day.
“At our next meeting, we will work on message training,” Marzano said. “We want all volunteers to be ready to answer residents’ questions and convey the need for the bond issue. Our elementary schools and middle schools are aging; Sharon Elementary is 100 years old. Every year we spend thousands of dollars on emergency repairs.”
School officials have outlined the major problems facing the district’s aging building as follows:
• Electrical systems cannot handle classroom technology needs and upgrading them would be cost-prohibitive and inefficient in antiquated buildings.
• Inadequate and expensive boiler systems cause excessive heat and cannot be temperature controlled.
• Leaking and aging plumbing causes cracking walls and failing ceiling tiles, and flooding and drainage problems that displace students and distract from education.
• Buildings were not built to modern safety and security standards are not ADA accessible.
“There is a solution,” said Marzano. “Because the projected cost to renovate to meet state minimum standards would cost almost as much as building new, a committee of local residents recommended building three new elementary schools and renovating the middle school.”
School officials have explained that to fund the plan, the Highland Schools will have a 3.9-mill bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. The cost to homeowners is about $11.50 per month per $100,000 home value.
“This is a good, long-term investment that will allow the district to focus dollars on instruction, not on emergency building repairs, as well as provide a safe and productive learning environment for the district’s youngest students.”
Chairman for the bond issue campaign will be Tom Dreiling, a Hinckley resident with children in the district. Dreiling is assistant superintendent of the Independence City School District. Serving as campaign treasurer is Marc Sollenberger.
Dreiling told The Post he decided to chair the campaign “because despite the excellent education my children received at Highland Schools, it is impossible to ignore the physical needs of the school district.”
“The buildings are outdated and not equipped to provide an appropriate learning environment for our kids” said Dreiling. “The buildings are designed for past approaches to education. I, like many parents, want our students to have the best educational experience. In our current state the outdated buildings serve as a distraction to the main purpose of school, which is learning.”
More information on the bond issue can be found on the district’s website and face book as follows: https://www.forhighlandschools.com or facebook.com/ForHighlandSchools.
School officials have been working behind the scenes for months, including surveying the community to decide how to approach replacing the district’s three aging elementary schools. The campaign was expected to have officially kicked off Sept. 1 and will run through election day Nov. 7, said Dawn Marzano, district director of communications.
Marzano explained a steering committee for the bond issue met for the first time Aug. 16. On that day volunteers were already signing up to chair various campaign committees. Marzano said the steering committee will continue to meet every week up to election day.
“At our next meeting, we will work on message training,” Marzano said. “We want all volunteers to be ready to answer residents’ questions and convey the need for the bond issue. Our elementary schools and middle schools are aging; Sharon Elementary is 100 years old. Every year we spend thousands of dollars on emergency repairs.”
School officials have outlined the major problems facing the district’s aging building as follows:
• Electrical systems cannot handle classroom technology needs and upgrading them would be cost-prohibitive and inefficient in antiquated buildings.
• Inadequate and expensive boiler systems cause excessive heat and cannot be temperature controlled.
• Leaking and aging plumbing causes cracking walls and failing ceiling tiles, and flooding and drainage problems that displace students and distract from education.
• Buildings were not built to modern safety and security standards are not ADA accessible.
“There is a solution,” said Marzano. “Because the projected cost to renovate to meet state minimum standards would cost almost as much as building new, a committee of local residents recommended building three new elementary schools and renovating the middle school.”
School officials have explained that to fund the plan, the Highland Schools will have a 3.9-mill bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. The cost to homeowners is about $11.50 per month per $100,000 home value.
“This is a good, long-term investment that will allow the district to focus dollars on instruction, not on emergency building repairs, as well as provide a safe and productive learning environment for the district’s youngest students.”
Chairman for the bond issue campaign will be Tom Dreiling, a Hinckley resident with children in the district. Dreiling is assistant superintendent of the Independence City School District. Serving as campaign treasurer is Marc Sollenberger.
Dreiling told The Post he decided to chair the campaign “because despite the excellent education my children received at Highland Schools, it is impossible to ignore the physical needs of the school district.”
“The buildings are outdated and not equipped to provide an appropriate learning environment for our kids” said Dreiling. “The buildings are designed for past approaches to education. I, like many parents, want our students to have the best educational experience. In our current state the outdated buildings serve as a distraction to the main purpose of school, which is learning.”
More information on the bond issue can be found on the district’s website and face book as follows: https://www.forhighlandschools.com or facebook.com/ForHighlandSchools.