School bond supporters say they’ve learned from the past

It is too bad we cannot have a "write in" amount on this vote. I still say I would vote to give them 15 million to "FIX" the High School. I bet if they were given a budget upfront the solutions would be different. Voters have not been given a complete picture of all the options. We have some talented engineers in this town. There are a few options that do not include rebuilding perfectly sound square footage. If we could get the School Board a dollar amount we could move on from this endless, not productive process. A no vote does not mean I do not support education, it does not mean I don't agree that the school needs some TLC, it means I see no reason for this extravagance. On a different note I attended a high school where hundreds of us all had to traverse stairs at the same time, I do not see how that decreases the High School's people moving issues. The architectural firm that is on hold right now needs to be given a list of the problems and the dollar amount we will spend. I bet they find many solutions that do not include tearing down what we have. I bet they would find a way to FIX the problems.

I agree with arlyn. People are out of touch when they think structures of buildings can be changed with that little amount of money! For those who criticize, you should be on a committee who talk with the architects. Or better yet, go into the schools now to see what they look like. No one likes higher taxes, but something has to be done before things start falling apart. I think it's great that the school board took what the public had to say and tried to modify the changes. They didn't try to spend as much money as they could! I would like to know any business who would put up with working in an environment with ONE outlet, or sit in a room that is 90 degrees because the sun is beating in the windows and there is no air conditioning! Try to learn or get any work done in that environment. And yet, we expect our kids to do just that at Park Elementary. I don't want higher taxes, but I will vote YES because I do want better and more energy efficient buildings for our students in this community...for years to come. They deserve it!

I need your help, Leader Web site readers. This is Jorge Sosa, staff writer, and I'm working on a story about people's opinions on the school bond vote. I have two interviews lined up with taxpayers who are voting "yes" and one interview lined up with a taxpayer who is voting "no." I would like to talk to another "no" voter so I can have two in favor, two opposed.

If you are opposed to the school bond referendum and are available for an interview today (Tuesday, Oct. 28) or this evening, please contact me. My contact info is listed below.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at (320) 234-4154 or sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)

You can’t tell me this proposal could not be cut to a more reasonable plan. There is almost 8 million alone for sports. For some reason those who support this plan and the 2 other plans that failed always come up with these gigantic proposals which will rise our taxes over the roof. We already pay some of the highest taxes in rural Minnesota and with this plan we will be right up there with the suburban cities. I wish the city of Hutchinson and the school district could work together some way to put forth a proposal that wouldn’t have such a high price for us to bear as property owners. Maybe a small retail & motel sales tax dedicated to school projects instead of waterparks. I believe the school needs attention, but at what price and what needs to be done is the question. I am not going to support this plan, because I believe more could be done to bring down the cost and more could be done to look into ways to have others besides property owners share in the cost.