Letter to the Editor: Support the Referendum

Why I support the Referendum (as simply as I can state it) 

Our High School facilities are antiquated.  They do not measure up to current standards, falling far behind those of every high school in the Northern Suburbs. Niles West & North, the Glenbrooks, Stevenson, Lake Forest, Gurnee schools, Vernon Hills, Libertyville,  – all have facilities that have been upgraded numerous times while our schools have been mired, not only in the last century – but the middle of the last century , and in the case of the B and C buildings at Highland Park High School, the early 20^th century.  Our teachers and students shine despite incredibly inferior facilities.  That shouldn’t be ok in our community.  

Unlike most of the Ed. 1st leadership, I have spent considerable time in our two schools and neighboring schools for the last ten years.  The youngest of my three children will be graduating from DHS in May.  Through their involvement in music, theater and sports I have seen what our students contend with every day – bad air flow and temperature control, ADA non-compliance, classrooms at HPHS that are small, uncomfortable, difficult to access, a DHS library that often floods, HPHS moisture control issues, pools that aren’t close to modern standards, have unhealthy airflow, can’t be used for competition and are woefully inadequate in size and configuration to handle almost round the clock needs of the schools and the communities (PE classes, swimming / diving / water polo teams, HPAC and Coho Swim groups, lifeguard training, masters swimming, swim lessons).  At HPHS the gyms that Sam Shapiro loves are in a building with no running water, no locker facilities, horrible lighting, and are ADA inaccessible.  At DHS the gym space is so limited that gym classes and training for athletes are also held in hallways, including running practice and off season fitness workouts.  Even David Greenberg, who wrote ad nauseum about the unimportance of improving our PE facilities during the first referendum wrote to me last year about his horror and concern when he actually toured the buildings while in action.  I believe his seeing rather than relying on uneducated claims by Ed. First to the contrary, led to his support of this referendum. 

Ed. First’s claims about the ability of the district to use “reserves” to fund long-term improvements speak to a lack of understanding of accounting and finance.  But, not surprising; they have constantly shifted their arguments as their various claims have lost thunder.  Those of us who are supporters of the facilities improvements have never waivered from our reasons for that support.  We feel our students and teachers should be working with a full deck – not one stacked against them.  When defeated in the first referendum, we offered ourselves up to work harder, with the district, to find the best plan for our students and the broader community.  We worked with the board, district employees and past referendum opponents to create and present a plan that was good for the community, priced fairly, and that can be built upon in the future when the time is right.  Many past opponents are now supporters.  Others, sat along side us in committees, sometimes disagreeing, but generally agreeing with the needs of the schools and the community.  Some of those who are part of Ed. First today, agreed with us on the committees about most everything that became part of the current plan –however they now vehemently oppose  - evidently their reason for being, is to say no, not to find a better way. 

I am asking you to trust the over 100 people who worked incredibly hard for the past two years to design a plan and the financing for that plan that will at least bring our buildings close to our neighboring high schools .  We aren’t building a taj mahal.  Just earlier today, as I drove down Edens I noticed that Niles North is adding on to its fieldhouse to continue to enhance the opportunities for their students and staff.  So, pass the referendum and we will begin to give our children what other communities have had for years.  Vote no, and we will continue to fall farther behind.  I will be done with children in our school system in just over a month.  I am now 55 – hard to believe – when I moved to Deerfield 27 years ago, I was not out of high school ten years myself.  I am just finishing paying for seven years of post secondary education for my two older children, both of whom have special needs and I am about to embark on at least for more years of college for my youngest son.  Money does not flow freely at the Steindler house – but I can think of no better way to spend $30 extra per month than to support this referendum.  Lots of people had the foresight and made sacrifices to establish HPHS and DHS, 100+ and almost 55 years ago.  I would be honored to be part of a community that set up our buildings for the children of the next half century.  Please join me in voting YES for the Referendum on Tuesday. 

Harry A. Steindler

Deerfield