Community, students deserve yes vote

I write this letter to encourage a YES vote on the upcoming school referendum.I have been a lifelong avid high school sports fan, attending many musical and stage productions as well. In doing so, I have been able to enjoy events not only in New Hampton but in dozens of other school venues. Occasionally this has given me access to some classroom areas and cafeterias, also.Over the many years, I couldn’t help but notice the improvements being built and added to enhance the experiences of students in those districts. Since we last built a school, new school have been built or expanded in Charles City, Cresco, Decorah, Oelwein, Waukon, Waverly, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Nashua Plainfield, Osage and even St. Joseph’s Community School in New Hampton.I graduated from our high school 58 years ago. My parents graduated from the same 1913 school building more than 85 years ago, and it wasn’t new then.Our community has done an exemplary job in updating and improving our library, churches, medical clinic and hospital. We need a new school to give our children the opportunities to learn in the best possible learning environment.I haven’t had a child in school for nearly 20 years, and it is very unlikely that any of my grandchildren will ever be a student here.I am still voting YES. Our school community and students deserve it.