'Without Strong Schools, We Cannot Have A Strong Community:' Vote YES For A New Central Middle School

EVERGREEN PARK, IL—I’m sending this as a current parent, a taxpayer, a business leader here in Evergreen Park, a former president of the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce, and, most importantly, someone who truly believes in this community.

I understand that rebuilding Central Middle School comes with a cost. As taxpayers, none of us take that lightly. But I also believe we have to look beyond what this costs us today and ask ourselves what it will cost Evergreen Park if we don’t invest in our schools and our future.

I specifically chose to move to Evergreen Park because of its schools.

My daughter, who is now in high school, attended Central. While she was there, I spent a lot of time in that building as both a parent and a volunteer coach. That experience opened my eyes to just how outdated Central has become and, more importantly, to some safety and facility concerns our students and staff deal with every day.

Honestly, all you need to do is have lunch at Central one day. Sit in that building and look around at the environment our middle school students experience every single day. It’s difficult to ignore that this building no longer reflects the pride we have in our schools or the expectations we should have for our children.

And that’s not a reflection of our incredible teachers, staff, or students. It’s a reflection of a building that has simply outlived what we should expect for our kids.

Our children deserve better than simply making an aging building work.

They deserve a school that is safe, modern, welcoming, and designed for how children learn today. They deserve a school that our students, teachers, families, and our entire community can be proud of.

And this isn’t only about our children.

Through my experience with the Chamber and as a business leader in Evergreen Park, I know that strong schools and strong communities go hand in hand.

Because without strong schools, we cannot have a strong community. Great schools attract families, strengthen property values, and encourage businesses to invest in communities that are thriving.

I moved here because of our schools. I raised my children here because of our schools. And I want the next family looking for a place to call home to look at Evergreen Park and say, “That’s where I want to raise my family.”

Central Middle School has served generations of Evergreen Park families. Now we have the opportunity—and I believe the responsibility—to make sure the next generation has something even better.

Yes, this is an investment. But it’s an investment in our children, our property values, our businesses, and the future of Evergreen Park.

I strongly support the referendum to build a new Central Middle School, and I’m asking this community to do the same.

I moved here because of our schools. I stayed here because of this community. And I’m asking you to invest in both.

Let’s build a Central that our children deserve and an Evergreen Park that future generations will continue to be proud to call home.

Please vote yes.

Thank you.

Sara Klein