On May 5, I urge you to go to the polls and support our Niles Community School students by voting yes for both millage proposals to upgrade our school facilities.

While teachers are doing amazing work with the youth in our community, the buildings our students study in are in great need of mechanical and classroom updates.

If approved, the funds from these bonds will allow our school to:

• Upgrade safety and security systems to provide our youth with a safe environment to learn

• Update mechanical systems so more operating funds can be spent on student learning and less on utility costs

• Provide teachers and students with current technology tools to better prepare our youth for college and work opportunities

• Enhance the learning experience by improving the classroom environment

Most of our school facilities are 50 to 60 years old. It is past time for us to refresh these buildings for our youth. Heating and water systems are outdated and our school maintenance team has major challenges in finding parts to keep them working. Windows are so old and inefficient that cold air blows into the classrooms during winter months, chilling our students while they try to learn.

No one wants to pay more taxes, but safe, modern and well-equipped schools are essential to the learning experience of our students and the well-being and economic health of our community. Studies by various economic research foundations provide strong evidence that well-maintained facilities can improve academic performance, which in turn has a positive economic impact on the community.

We need to support our teachers and students by voting “yes” to both bond proposals on May 5.

 

Mark Weber

Niles