With the dynamo School Board President Laura Chardiet at the helm and reliable lieutenants such as Jamie Wallace inspiring the troops, dozens of parents and school officials who are pro-Measure CC, the bond issue, happily canvassed targeted areas of the community on Saturday morning and afternoon.
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Ms. Wallace visited 75 homes on Keystone, and merely one person demurred about the fix-the-schools bond on the June 3 ballot.
“We were very happy with the turnout and the quality of the turnout,” Ms. Chardiet said this morning. It was heartening to see them out there walking the neighborhoods, contacting high-propensity voters.
“I don’t know if they understand the details of the bond issue, but they are supportive of what needs to be done.”
With Supt. Dave LaRose, Assistant Supers Mike Reynolds and Katie Krumpe, principals from every school, parents with school-agers, parents without – enthusiasm was headed toward the sky.
The accompanying photos represent various stages of disrepair and needed-upgrade at schools throughout the School District.
“I think responses we heard were so favorable because they believe the quality of our schools should match the quality of our teachers,” Ms. Wallace said. “People move here because our schools are so good. It would be nice of our facilities were at somewhat the same level as our schools.
“People do have concerns. One is that the bond money $109 million) is spent appropriately on long-term projects.
“Even talking about technology, which changes so rapidly, the understanding was that we have got to have the technology infrastructure, to have the internet capabilities, to rewire the electrical system so they can plug in the computers.
“The people we saw on Saturday,” Ms. Wallace said, “understood that. It is fascinating.
“Of the people who were home the vast majority were very supportive, even if they didn't have kids in the schools. The most common comment was, ‘My kids went to those schools. I know they need fixing up.’
“Others who didn't have kids graduate said that they fully understood that our good schools directly affect the increases in our property values. Others said, ‘I always support schools.’ Of families with kids in the schools, to a person they said that they understood the need to update, renovate and refurbish the facilities.
“One dad,” said Ms. Wallace, “talked about how much he appreciated the District putting in hydration stations because his kids really didn't like taste of the water from the water fountains.”
