Linn-Mar school district values education

We all know that one of the hallmarks of a civilized society is the high value we place on education, but what are the indicators that demonstrate it? Is it highly qualified teachers? Comprehensive programming? Opportunities for a wide range of extracurricular activities?

We could go round and round debating that question, but I think we can all agree, at a minimum, that ensuring sufficient classroom space is a basic tenet of what it means to value education. After all, whether you believe it's the teachers, programming, or extracurriculars that most signify a quality education, ultimately, we can offer none of these to our students without adequate facilities.

On Sept. 11, members of the Linn-Mar community will have an opportunity to vote on a $55 million bond proposal to pay for the construction of two new fifth- and sixth-grade buildings to ease overcrowding at several of our buildings and make room for our growing student population as enrollment continues to increase year after year.

Joe Biden famously said, 'Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget.” While education at both the state and federal levels is continuously undermined, we have an opportunity at the local level to make a strong statement about how much we value education. I urge voters to have their voices heard on Sept. 11.

Rachel Wall

Linn-Mar School Board Member

Marion