This letter was originally submitted to the Evanston Roundtable Community Forum on January 31, 2012.
The District 65 school investment referendum has several purposes – to accommodate growing enrollment, upgrade and expand our school buildings with smart space classrooms, and invest in technology and methodology to keep Evanston schools competitive, including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) technology for our middle school science classrooms. All good. In fact, there should be no question that the District 65 referendum is about improvement, opportunity, and advancement for every student.
What gets lost in our discussion of the positive educational impact of the school referendum is its positive economic development impact for all of Evanston.
First, school infrastructure improvements, including the construction of a school center in Evanston’s central core, will involve many Evanston residents and contractors. Those are jobs created in Evanston for Evanston. Second, the presence of a school – with busy sidewalks, families connecting, and continual activities and events – will generate positive social capital and can stabilize and lift an Evanston neighborhood. We know how a public institution, such as a YMCA, hospital, or school can anchor a neighborhood or business district. Third, experts call for strengthening public math and science curricula and for early exposure to laboratory science instruction so that our students can advance their science learning in college and compete for high-skilled jobs. We can’t lose ground in this. Finally, one can’t ignore the connections between quality public schools, increasing home values, and Evanston’s ability to attract families and employers.
This is an investment by all of us for all of us. Vote YES on Evanston’s school investment referendum.
Ald. Peter Braithwaite
Ald. Jane Grover
The District 65 school investment referendum has several purposes – to accommodate growing enrollment, upgrade and expand our school buildings with smart space classrooms, and invest in technology and methodology to keep Evanston schools competitive, including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) technology for our middle school science classrooms. All good. In fact, there should be no question that the District 65 referendum is about improvement, opportunity, and advancement for every student.
What gets lost in our discussion of the positive educational impact of the school referendum is its positive economic development impact for all of Evanston.
First, school infrastructure improvements, including the construction of a school center in Evanston’s central core, will involve many Evanston residents and contractors. Those are jobs created in Evanston for Evanston. Second, the presence of a school – with busy sidewalks, families connecting, and continual activities and events – will generate positive social capital and can stabilize and lift an Evanston neighborhood. We know how a public institution, such as a YMCA, hospital, or school can anchor a neighborhood or business district. Third, experts call for strengthening public math and science curricula and for early exposure to laboratory science instruction so that our students can advance their science learning in college and compete for high-skilled jobs. We can’t lose ground in this. Finally, one can’t ignore the connections between quality public schools, increasing home values, and Evanston’s ability to attract families and employers.
This is an investment by all of us for all of us. Vote YES on Evanston’s school investment referendum.
Ald. Peter Braithwaite
Ald. Jane Grover
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment