Letter: Make Personal Sacrifices for Avon Lake Kids, 'Yes' on Issue 10

To the Editor:

I have lived in Avon Lake for almost 50 years. When I arrived, the center of town, at Walker and Route 83, was a gas station, a TV store, and 2 cornfields. The top industries in town were Fruehauf Truck, Goodrich and CEI. There was no cable TV, no Internet, no cell phones and no freeway. 

Things have changed in that near half century, but one thing has remained the same. The Avon Lake City Schools were excellent then, and they are excellent today.

The Avon Lake City Schools are not just excellent, they are “Excellent With Distinction” as noted by the State. They continue to meet all 23 state educational requirements to reach that level. 

We don’t have to look too far away to see school systems that don’t even come close to meeting those standards. 

Is Avon Lake the “real world”?  Not really, but its pretty close to the world I would like to live in. When you have been driving through other areas, isn’t it nice to arrive back in Avon Lake?  Wouldn’t you rather live in a town where people are moving IN because of the educational opportunities, rather than moving OUT for the lack of them? 

I have kids who graduated from ALHS, and grandkids who are in AL schools now. In my opinion they received, and are receiving, excellent educational opportunities. 

Right now, this very minute, the Avon Lake City Schools are at a crossroads. Actually it’s more like approaching a freeway offramp. They will either stay on the road of excellence, or be forced to take the offramp toward mediocrity. You will make this choice for them on May 7. 

This isn’t just a choice for YOUR family. This is a choice for your entire community. For the kids here now and the kids yet to come. This is your chance to pay it forward. 

Will it require sacrifice? Yes it will. As an example, if you sacrifice one cup of coffee each day, or one pack of cigarettes each week, you will probably pay for Issue 10. You can think of what you can sacrifice to keep providing our children with excellent educational opportunities. Please do this for our kids now and in the future. 

Wouldn’t you rather have a new neighbor move in because they value education and want their kids to have the very best - rather than have a valued neighbor move out because the best education is no longer available here?   

Think about it. Make your own personal sacrifice for the kids. Vote YES on Issue 10 on May 7. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this. 

Richard Dils

Avon Lake