Middleton School Referendum

One of the most important things I remember about growing up was when my local school district failed to pass a referendum which would have helped to maintain the elementary and middle schools I had attended. As a result, my parents had been so angry at the local population that they had to leave. A little over a year later, our family moved outside Mahtomedi, MN which had a more progressive (read: well-maintained) district.

The difference in quality of education was simply amazing. I had gone from class sizes approaching fifty to twenty-five. Teachers were less stressed-out. There were extra-curricular activities through which I could get involved both in my school and my community. (The academic coursework was more challenging, to boot -- we were expected to learn, not just pass State proficiency tests.)

Fast forward to now. I'm living in Middleton, WI, a town that was recently rated as one of the most livable cities in the US. (Hooray!) The entire Madison area has been exploding, and as a result, the school system is getting population pressure. At issue: a new K-8 school and funds to renovate heating and air conditioning systems in elementary schools from the fifties. If all of the four measures were to pass, property taxes would increase on the order of low hundreds of dollars per year depending on property value.

The situation is eerily similar to that which faced my parents when I was growing up. And just this morning I was interrupted in my plasma theory work by a pre-recorded phone message from a bigoted anti-school Republican backed PAC that asserted that my property taxes would go up $500/year for no good reason. Of course, this same group has been shown to intentionally air false ads before.

The venom in the lady's voice was difficult to hear. Why should we be arguing about building a school or maintaining existing properties?

I know the school has my vote. Hopefully this kind of nonsense will be ignored by the city. After all, investing in the education of children (and adults!) is a very good thing for the children -- and our future.