Letters to the editor

Citizens of The Wisconsin Heights District/Fellow Vanguards:   As a new Wisconsin Heights school board member, I’m writing to explain both my support for and the reasons why I think this is the opportune time to put forth a capital referendum towards new facilities. I didn’t grow up in the Heights district, but was raised in a district strikingly similar in size and makeup.  I come from a family of self-reliant farmers and farm kids, raised to be frugal, thoughtful do-it-yourselfers, and in that regard, learned to stretch our dollars, and maintain our house and home and equipment.  Outsiders can tell the values of a community by how they value their institutions, and one of the reasons I deliberately moved into this community was because of the school’s reputation and the community supporting it.  I believe prospective families and businesses look for similar evidence of community support when they decide where to settle down. The Heights district has been historically frugal and pennywise in their “requests” for funding and new projects over the past three decades.  It has been 26 years (two generations of kids K-12) since a capital referendum was on the ballot—the longest in the region.  There is a tipping point where continued repair/maintenance of older systems/buildings becomes prohibitive — similar to the maintenance in our own homes.  Growing up, the school physically, and mentally, was a second home for me, and I believe it serves this purpose for many community members.  I understand that the  current pandemic times seem turbulent and foreboding, and that this might seem to be the wrong time to ask you to consider a financial sacrifice.  The counter argument would be that we can’t afford to wait years to proceed.  The projected costs of building a new elementary wing on a single campus are only marginally higher than retrofitting the old buildings.  In my opinion, maintaining a single campus structurally is much more efficient than three completely detached structures.  With updated HVAC units and a prospect of future solar options, the move would  ultimately be cost saving.  Interest rates are optimal now.  Allowing for mandated bidding processes, this could also generate business for some or many local contractors. Mostly, I firmly believe that voting for this referendum is the most assured action you can take that will actually result in meaningful results.  Every other item on the ballot this November is a large leap of faith, based on campaign platforms and promises that don’t always materialize.  Ours is a vote towards a needed, definable, tightly budgeted, meticulously blueprinted entity that will be started and built on a well-defined timetable in full view of our district residents.  It is a safe vote.  It was vetted through numerous board meetings as such to ask for only needed items.  The amount requested is also considerably less than the neighboring schools who passed their referendums last spring. The word “vanguard” refers to the group that gets out in front of issues on the horizon and addresses them head on. I believe a vote for the referendum at this time is the single best action you can take to show your strong support for your school and community.   Let us be Vanguards!   Respectfully submitted, Matt Crowe Town of Black Earth   On Thursday, September 7th, I drove almost 30 miles, with a long list of things to buy at a chain bargain store in Sauk City. But I left empty-handed, spent not one penny, because they seem to have chosen to defy our state-wide mandate to wear a face covering. I was impressed by the multiple signs on front doors but puzzled why there was nothing in bold font saying “MASKS REQUIRED.”  So I opened the door, leaned in, and asked the (possibly) new (blithely unmasked) manager/employee. He smiled in a welcoming manner while assuring me that they did NOT require face coverings. I told him that meant I would not shop there, and pulled my head back out the door. If they don’t care enough about our lives to follow simple guidelines, to obey a science-based mandate, then they don’t deserve our money. I have never seen that parking lot so empty. He was the only person I saw in the store, midday, weekday. Do they not see the connection?  Since they’ve made it just about impossible to email the company, I suggest here that they just let everyone know when they decide to treat the public with decency and common sense. Many residents will be happy to return and support such a valuable asset to the town.   Peggy Peckham Arena