What is the worth of a good local school in a community?

Due to legislative mismanagement, each of the five local schools in Greene County is facing funding problems to maintain local control and facilities in the communities where we live. Those who fail to rally referendum support risk creating new debt for buildings in other communities as we get absorbed by other schools. The result: more expensive "solutions" for the taxpayer than supporting our existing local schools.

We can make an informed, economical choice that supports local healthy communities and schools. Or we can wait to have the money extracted at a high cost: losing our priceless communities.

What happens to community viability when a school is lost? I am a graduate of Coal City High School. That is just a few miles down the road. Local teachers, superintendents, doctors, bank presidents and professional people are alumni. While I was in school there, Coal City was a bustling small town with a drug store, and soda fountain, dry goods store, restaurants, a hardware, a feed store, two filling stations, a garage, a train station, a hotel. . . .

The county seat mandated the school move to Spencer to meet legislative demands. Students in the area now ride long distances, jockeying between schools, and find it extremely difficult to participate in after-school activities and practices.

Property values dived, and local businesses closed. Personal investments for retirement were drastically reduced. Take a drive through that town, and see for yourself.

Thus, as a school gets farther away from the homes of its students, obvious problems result. One result is isolation. Longer distances from home increase separation of families. Children increasingly separated from families are less likely to know and adopt deeply held family and community values.

Another result is fragmentation of a positive community. It becomes more difficult to attend parent conferences, sports practices, games, music programs, etc. It is more difficult to know teachers, school staff, and other parents -- families of our children's friends. That means we are less likely to develop networks that support children.

But, you may say, "I am a (fill in the blank: businessman, senior citizen, a farmer). Why should I support a local school in my town when I don't have children in the school?"

As a retired person, a senior citizen, and a farmer, I am interested in these questions. In my research I found that assets are important! A local school is an integral part of a community's assets. Assets count when attracting businesses to furnish local employment. When seeking maintenance for local utilities, assets count! Recent articles here mention communities needing a sewer system upgrade, a park, improved roads. No school = fewer jobs, fewer upgrades, less maintenance.

Potential investors with families and children now choose other locations with good local schools, rather than a long bus ride.

Choose wisely! Choose Life! Protect your investments! Vote yes to support your schools!

Peggy Hinds Davis

Worthington, IN