Support the future of Monticello by voting 'yes' on Sept. 11

EXPRESS EDITORIAL

     For a number of weeks now our readers have read Letters to the Editor from those of all walks of life in support of a new middle school in Monticello. The Monticello Express joins those in lending our support behind the Sept. 11 Monticello School District bond issue.

     When you drive into any community, think what stands out as a newcomer: housing options, family activities/events, recreation, a safe and secure community, churches, an active business district, and schools.

     Monticello is lucky to provide educational options for residents of the community when it comes to where they choose to send their kids to school. We have the public school here and Sacred Heart Catholic School. With options for education, it’s also important to provide the best… The best schools, the best teachers and faculty, the best atmosphere in which to succeed.

     The middle school, the former Monticello High School, served this community for many decades. Many share great memories of playing basketball in the “old” gym. Perhaps you have memories, good or bad, of running through the halls to class, or forgetting your locker combination. As they say, “If these walls could talk…”

     In the 21st Century, things around us are changing every day. It’s almost impossible to stay up on the latest in technology. The ways in which we receive information (news, pictures, communicate) is endless. Education is always evolving. And we must evolve with it.

     While the classrooms inside the middle school were sufficient for many years, education is not what it once was 10, 20, or 50-plus years ago. Sitting in a desk, facing the front of the room listening to a teacher lecture from the blackboard is almost a thing of the past. It’s now about collaborative learning. Allowing students to work in groups as they learn from one another.

     This year, the MCSD rolled out its one-on-one technology, providing each student within the district with use of a Chromebook or iPad. That, coupled with SmartBoards, expands the wealth of knowledge available to our students at the touch of a finger. While this was a necessary measure, more is needed for top-notch education in Monticello.

     When students are piled into a classroom that doesn’t allow room for movement, room to move desks around to allow small-group collaboration, that impedes on students’ education.

     The middle school is in dire need for safety upgrades. Just ask the parents of students with physical disabilities… They will testify as to why their child cannot adequately get around the building. When anyone is buzzed into the building, they are asked to go to the office on the second floor. Any intruder could gain access and obviously bypass the administration.

     In the case of a fire or emergency, think about the manpower needed to get each and every person out of that building, especially those with disabilities. That is no easy task.

     The State of Iowa has been on the cusp of providing a first-rate education for its young people. Monticello needs to stick to that mission as well.

     Please join us in voting “YES” on Tuesday, Sept. 11 for a new middle school, for the future of our residents, for future generations, for the future of Monticello. (K.N.B.)

 

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