Letter: 'We Need to Move Ahead' With 'Yes' on Bonds, Says Local Businessman

Editor:

As a long time MI resident whose children are no longer in MI schools, and businessman who has started and run multiple businesses, I was initially skeptical about the school bond levy issue. It is a lot of money. After looking into it, however, I was surprised by the magnitude of the problems our school system faces and impressed by the thought and effort that has gone into this proposal.

It appears that as a community we understand that our elementary schools are severely over crowded and soon the middle school will be too. No one disputes that we need to address these problems.

Over 40 years in business has taught me that it’s impossible to get 100% agreement about how to solve complex problems, and a good solution implemented is far better than long delays or no solution at all. The disagreements surrounding this bond levy, while strongly voiced, offer no clear alternative, which means it’s very unlikely any future plan will be better received than the current one.

What is clear is the current plan is the result of considerable thought and review by experts and community volunteers. The proposal’s website is excellent and addresses the objections raised by its opponents. I encourage everyone to visit the site and see for themselves the thought and effort that has been poured into this proposal. 

We need to move ahead. Delays will only cause us all to suffer: our kids from poor facilities, our schools because they can’t attract the best teachers, our pocket books from increased costs, and our property values because our reputation as a premier school system will be jeopardized.

I’d like to express my appreciation to the many Islanders who volunteered so much of their time developing the plan for this school bond levy vote. Thank you.

Jim Stanton