LETTER: Vote yes on NOSD referendum; it’s matter of needs, not wants

To Ozaukee Press:

When I moved to Fredonia from Brown Deer back in 2003, one of the first things I did was to tour the schools of the Northern Ozaukee School District. I noticed was how clean and prepared the classrooms and hallways were and how there wasn’t paper strewn all over the floors. My decision to move to Fredonia was at that point cemented by the cleanliness and the academic achievements of NOSD, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself and my family.

I since have had two children graduate from NOSD, my son Sean in 2011 and my son Tyler in 2015. Both have attended UW-Whitewater. Sean graduated in 2016 with a BA in finance and business management; Tyler, who is summa cum laude, is enrolled in the broadcast journalism program. Both Sean and Tyler received outstanding educations at NOSD, but in their time there very little had been done about the aging of the facilities.

Being in the school a great deal throughout the year, I’ve noticed that problems that used to be small are now larger issues. The roof is leaking in several spots, the doors and windows are over 50 years old, the technology classrooms have equipment from the 1970s, the kitchen equipment is from the 1960s—you get the picture. The current referendum is not one of wants, it’s one of needs. 

Doing the math and figuring the current value of my home, this referendum will cost me 25 cents per day, which is an absolute no-brainer yes vote in my opinion and should be a no-brainer for every district voter. 

For the schools to remain viable and attract new young families, these repairs and updates are a must to keep our Fredonia community growing, expand our tax base and increase our schools’ enrollments, which will in turn generate more state aid for the district.

I realize that I will receive some backlash for writing my opinion here, but I’m OK with that. I have thick skin. In closing, I would like to say that if for some reason you’re against this referendum, or you think the cost is too high, please remember that the next time you buy that $11 pitcher of beer at Flag Day in Waubeka, which is for a great cause, you could also be supporting another great cause by voting yes on April 3 for the NOSD referendum.

Timothy Job

Fredonia