Dear Editor,
As a JSHS graduate, (class of 2003) I honestly never pictured moving back to Greene County. As a teenager, I longed for the city life: full of fun, exciting things to do, and bountiful, high paying job prospects. However, after hearing police sirens and ambulances speeding by at all hours, as I graduated college I opted to move back to my hometown.
Believe it or not, I found a respectable job right here in Jefferson, with better benefits and higher salary than what I was offered in Des Moines. I got married, have two kids, and changed my career path over the last 11 years.
I made that decision, and stand by it, because I know Greene County is top notch. There is absolutely nowhere else that I would raise our two boys.
Now to get to the school bond issue…I realize many are against it. (My husband is one of them!) We can’t allow ourselves to stick to the ‘old school’ way of educating, and entrusting our children’s safety in the district’s current state. As of now, anyone off the street can walk into any of our school buildings with a weapon and harm our children; the future of our society. You may argue it can’t happen here, but do you think the parents and community of the Sandy Hook shooting thought it’d happen at their schools, in their community?
Times have changed from 50, 25, or even 13 years ago since I graduated HS. We NEED better security, more high-tech based learning, adequate heating/cooling systems, opportunity for hosting large sporting events (which will in turn help our local economy), and the ability to comply with ADA requirements for our disabled children, among other things.
I encourage all of you to attend the upcoming town hall meetings to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Knowledge is power, and in educating yourself about the issue at hand, I hope you will vote YES for the future of our children.
Stacy Stream, Jefferson
