Today is Election Day — when communities across the nation can choose their local and school board representatives. It’s also the day the School Bond Referendum is on the ballot in our district. It’s something the District has been working on for several years, and a group of us has been working tirelessly since May to promote. It’s a well-thought-out plan that takes stewardship, realities, and the future into account.
Unfortunately, a group of random citizens has deemed themselves more knowledgeable than community groups, architects, and professional educators, and has exploited social media to propose a number of unvetted plans. “Let’s renovate, let’s look at a different site, let’s combine schools, let’s use a different fund to pay for it” — on it goes. It seems like throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping something sticks.
It reminds me very much of The Practice, an older TV legal drama about defense attorneys. When they have a weak case with no real merits, what they do is throw out a host of possibilities and alternative theories, hoping at least one will trigger reasonable doubt. It sounds like what’s going on with this referendum. The “Yes” argument has a solid plan, so “No” is grasping at any distraction they can conjure.
Know that these local elections have as much impact on your daily life as the national elections do — and be sure to cast your vote even if only a few things are on the ballot. But before you’re off to the polling place today, do your research before pressing those important buttons. Know what is valid and what is just smoke.
(And if you live in my School District, please, oh please, Vote YES.) #voteYES
