Business as usual

When I was back home in Wisconsin over Halloween, I spent some time catching up with my aunt and uncle in my hometown. They both work for the school district, one in IT and the other as a science teacher.

I graduated from high school in 2013, and from what I have seen on Facebook, it has changed dramatically in the 12 years I have been gone. From a beautifully redesigned library to upgrades to the science wing, I’m not sure how much I would recognize if I walked through the halls I used to know so well.

When talking about these updates, I was told about how they came to be — a bond referendum. And not just one bond. A bond is issued, updates are made, and when that bond falls off, a new bond is issued to update a different area of the school. Because of this, my high school in a town a fraction of the size of Creston is beautiful and functional.

It sounds like in Darlington, taxpayers taking on some of the burden of a nicer school isn’t a political issue. It’s just business as usual.

I was recently sent a survey about what issues matter to me. At one point, it asked me to select which I cared the most about. Because of my new status as a mother, and for a host of other reasons, I chose education. I have no children or siblings in school. In fact, I don’t have any family in the Iowa school system. But it is still the most important to me.

I’m not writing this to push another bond referendum. It certainly would take much more than the thoughts of one person to bring that headache up again. But I am a (fairly) young woman who has decided to make a home in Creston.

My husband Patrick and I never planned to stay in Creston, but over the past few years, it’s become an option. Especially now that we have our daughter, where we live is very important to us.

The education available is one of the most important factors I look at in determining where to set down roots. Creston has wonderful educators and a lot of potential, but I worry that the community’s support in the school is lacking here compared to other cities.

It’s challenging because sometimes the loudest voices don’t represent the majority of opinion; however, I can’t help but remember the general obligation bonds that failed to pass and wonder how so many people can’t see the benefit in supporting our youth and educating the next generation.

Some people took issue in the fact that part of the bond would have improved facilities for sports and other extracurriculars. “They should be focusing on classes,” people complained. I wonder if they know that 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs previously played sports.

There are several things the bond would have addressed that irk me every time I step into the room. The first is our gym. No air conditioning in our gym? Have you been to the Panther Wrestling Invitational? All I hear as I walk around (sweating) is other parents and athletes complaining about the heat in the gym. How embarrassing.

With declining enrollment, shouldn’t we be trying to put our best foot forward to attract new students and thereby getting new residents to increase our tax base? Our sporting events are one of the ways we bring school-aged kids and families to Creston, and we are making a poor impression.

The other thing that irks me is our auditorium. It is not audience-friendly at all. There should be one, if not two, aisles through the middle to allow for easier seating. How it isn’t a fire hazard is beyond me. As a photographer, I would love to see new lights on stage.

These are things I notice as an outsider. I can’t imagine how many things people who are there every day see. I wish others could see supporting our schools as being “business as usual.”