Former 112 Board Member Supports Referendum

The following letter was written and submitted by Marcia Bogolub.

My husband and I are 21 year residents of HP and our two grown sons were educated in this district. Additionally, I served this community as a member of the District 112 School Board from 2008-2012. During my time on the school board, we wrestled with many issues revolving around the daily aspects of running a school district, but with increasing urgency, the current financial problems that we are facing today kept inserting themselves into every discussion. It became overwhelmingly evident... we could no longer kick the 12-school can down the road. Our school district was in trouble. In 2008, we began the painful process known as “BDR”-- budget deficit reduction.

As we continued working to keep the budget in check without compromising our children’s education, we also began a process of direct community engagement ---working together to formulate a plan to meet the long-term educational needs of our community. This work continued long after I left the board. As an observer, it seemed to me that every possible option related to reconfiguration was explored. After much discussion and an unprecedented amount of work by current board members, community and administration, I believe it is abundantly clear that keeping things as they are is no longer a choice. But we DO have a choice in how we move forward, and the referendum on the ballot March 15 can mindfully steer us in the right direction. This plan offers financial sustainability, facility improvements, and improved and creative school programming. And, in a community that enjoys a diversity unique amongst its neighbors on the North Shore, this referendum underscores something we all should feel proud of--- that while we do--and CAN continue ---to enjoy our neighborhoods, first and foremost, we are ONE community that cares about ALL the children in every corner of this district. This plan asserts that each child deserves the same educational experience, the same access and the same preparation for the high school they will all attend.

I urge all of us to vote YES for this referendum. It is the right plan for District 112.

Marcia Bogolub