This is an article I wrote a while back for the News Dispatch.....

A Bold Step Towards the Future For Our School System

On May 19th we will be voting on a referendum on whether to allow the Michigan City Areas Schools to finance the proposed Career Center adjacent to the Michigan City High School.

This presents an opportunity to make the clear statement that we will no longer accept a school system that is sub-standard; that we understand that our most precious resource is our children and we fully intend to make their success our top priority.

Model Career Centers across the nation have resulted in decreased dropout rates and behavior problems, increased graduation rates and have given students a clear view of their possibilities by working with them hand in hand to prepare them for their chosen path.

Through partnerships with Purdue North Central, Ivy Tech, Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses, we can show these students that there is a reason to continue their education; that there is a good future awaiting them after graduation, and that they have support in the schools and the business community to help them achieve their goals.

Last, as anyone in the real estate and business communities knows, the reputation of our school system is the primary reason for families choosing not to re-locate to our community. By making a bold statement that we are addressing the failings of our schools we can make progress toward changing that perception, and the clearest way to demonstrate that is to overwhelmingly support this referendum.