Voting Yes on Bond Honors History & Prepares for Future

To the Editor:

I’ve spent most of my life in schools—first as a student, then as a teacher, and now working behind the scenes. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: school buildings tell stories.

When we look at an old school building, we don’t just see bricks and mortar—we see memories. We see generations of students walking those halls, teachers shaping futures, and a community investing in something bigger than itself.

But time, as we all know, doesn’t stand still.

I graduated high school from this 1923 building 50 years ago in 1976 —and 50 years before me, so did my paternal grandmother Noelie Schuhmacher. That’s the kind of legacy we’re talking about. And that is why I am so passionate about the upcoming school bond which includes renovating this building, my old high school, now known affectionately as the 1923 Building.

This building has served us well. It has done its job for decades—reliably, faithfully, and with purpose. Yet today, we are faced with a simple question: how do we honor that legacy while preparing for the future? Renovation is not about replacing history. It’s about preserving it—and strengthening it. It means keeping the character of what makes this school district ours, while ensuring it meets the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s opportunities. Safe facilities. Modern infrastructure. Spaces that support learning in the way education looks now—not the way it looked 50 or 100 years ago. Because education has changed.

As we look ahead, this building will serve an even broader purpose—housing our administrative offices, special education classrooms, and disciplinary programs. These are critical parts of our district, supporting students in different ways, meeting real needs, and helping every child succeed.

That makes this renovation even more important.

Renovation isn’t about erasing the past. It’s about respecting it enough to invest in its future. It means safer spaces, updated systems, and environments that truly support the work being done inside these walls.

Today’s classrooms need technology integration, flexible & safe learning spaces, and environments that support collaboration and creativity. At the same time, we must be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars—making thoughtful, efficient decisions that extend the life of what we already have.

Renovation allows us to do exactly that.

Renovation is often more cost-effective than building new, and it respects the investment that this community has already made. It’s not starting over—it’s building forward.

But beyond the numbers, beyond the plans and blueprints, this is about people.

It’s about the students who will walk through our doors next year and the years after that. It’s about giving them a place where they feel safe, inspired, and ready to learn. It’s about teachers having the tools and environment they need to do what they do best.

And maybe most importantly, it’s about community pride.

Because when we invest in our schools, we are saying something very clear: that education matters here. That our children matter here. That our future matters here. Here in La Grange.

Renovating this building is not just a construction project— it’s a commitment.

A commitment to honor our past, to serve our present, and to prepare for our future. So please vote YES for Proposition A on May 2. Thank You.