Stewardship, efficiency, safety go toward building a new school

To the Editor,

   I’ve been a co-owner of a successful construction business for the past 45 years, and nine years of that time I served as a MCSD School Board member. My father was Director of Transportation and Building Grounds for MCSD for 28 years. If you do the math, that’s 73 years of experience in buildings and schools. Reflecting on those years of experience brings three words to my mind as I consider the upcoming vote on the bond issue for a new elementary school: stewardship, efficiency, and safety.

   First, stewardship: Current and former MCSD Board Members and administrators have done a tremendous job getting the most out of funding received. Carpenter and Shannon Elementary are very similar, with heating systems on their last leg and maxed out electrical infrastructure. To start dumping millions of dollars on repairs and structural improvements and still not addressing safety, learning environment and modern educational practices would not make sense. It would be a waste of our district tax dollars.

   Next, efficiency: In today's agricultural world families are required to own several farms to make a decent living to provide for their families. Whether it is 200 or 2,000 acres, there is usually one main grain drying and storage site. It is far more efficient to haul grain to one site than to have the expense and maintenance of repeating a facility at multiple locations. In 1970, our enrollment was 1,450, and in 2023 it was about 975 students. We have no business in maintaining three different campuses between the MS/HS site, Carpenter, and Shannon. The cost savings is immeasurable.

   Finally, safety: Last but not least, school safety and security are a high priority in our world today. Carpenter and Shannon were not built with the safety mindset that is required today. Building entry points are hard to control. The principal, nurse, school counselor, and resource officer are constantly traveling back and forth throughout the week. It’s a better use of taxpayer money as well as better for an educational environment to have those roles on one site.

   Stewardship, efficiency, and safety: my past experiences tell me that together, these add up to common sense. My grandparents and parents provided everything I needed as far as education; their taxes went toward the buildings that I attended. Now it’s time for us to do our part for the next generation.

   Please join me on improving our schools and community by voting YES Nov. 5.

Jeff Hinrichs

Monticello, Iowa