Vote yes on the De Pere School District Maintenance and Safety Referendum

I am a resident and parent writing to express my support for a referendum on the maintenance, safety and security of the Unified School District of De Pere.

We are fortunate to live in a district with true community schools, where alumni and community members show up to support our athletics, music and arts, and share the pride in our outstanding academic achievements. With this long and proud history comes aging buildings that require repairs, maintenance and upgrades to keep our schools strong and safe for our children. Investing in updates and ongoing repairs now will save our district money in the long run; The delay will increase costs when these systems inevitably fail and require emergency repair calls and replacements with fewer options, resulting in costly short-term repairs or expedited replacements.

A well-maintained school is more efficient in terms of energy savings as well as education. Teachers and staff are having to clean leaks in windows, ceilings and floors while taking a break from the most important task of educating our children. ADA and sidewalk updates will make our schools safer and accessible for students, employees and visitors of all ages and skill levels. The upgraded vestibule entrance at Dickinson Elementary School will bring school entry security to the highest safety standards.

As a community, let’s come together to continue the tradition of supporting the schools we are all so proud of and vote for this referendum.

Colleen Nowak, Ledgeview

This article originally appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: Letter: Vote Yes on the De Pere School District Referendum