Deanne Nelson, Rugby

I am writing to encourage everyone in the Rugby Public School District to vote Yes on the bond referendum for the Ely Addition. I am a mother of three young boys who are all currently enrolled in the Ely School. I feel our children’s education is so important and it is time to address the current needs at Ely. We need to make the investment in the school, the staff, our students and the community.

Education has evolved and changed so much over the years. When I think back to my school days, it was nothing like education is now, and that’s a great thing. Change is good. Back then, learing was a one-size fits all model. If you didn’t keep up, you fell behind. Now, it is individualized and specialized to fit each child’s needs. No child is left behind. We need bigger spaces to meet these needs. Learning in closets, hallways, entryways, under stairwells, etc. is not ideal and in my opinion, not a proper place to be learning. I can only imagine how distracting it is for the kids. How can they focus on test taking, reading, etc. when others are moving about the building, or the band is practicing around the corner in the lunchroom? Is this what we want for our children?

We also have many special services that come into the building to work with students, whether it is PT, OT, speech or mental health services. We did not have these services years ago. We have many students that receive these services whether it is daily or weekly. Years ago, students were “labeled;” these resources were not available to help kids in need. Rugby has the staff to address these needs early on in their education and we should be proud that we have had a 100 percent graduation rate for many years. I personally attribute that to having these services to help our students succeed. But all the staff that provide these extra services need space to work in and do their jobs effectively.

These children are the future of our community. They deserve the best education and facility to receive it in, no matter their physical or mental ability. Ely teachers and staff that are helping educate our future leaders also need and deserve the space, facility and resources so that they can do the best that they can for each one of our students. We can do this project now. Let’s not push it down the road; delaying it will only increase the cost.

When families are looking to move to a town or choose a community to raise a family, one of the first things they look at is the school system. We must keep our town relevant and growing. We have a fantastic school system, staff and administration. Ely has great bones; it just needs to be updated and expanded upon.

As a mother, the biggest and most important thing, besides their education, is their safety. Drop-offs and pick-ups are not the safest environment for our children. Cars, buses, kids on bikes, excess traffic all make for a dangerous situation. The new plan will make it safer for our kids going to and from school.

Please help our community, for the safety of our kids, furthering of their education and the continuing growth of Rugby. Vote YES on December 1st at the Rugby High School gymnasium for the addition and renovation of Ely Elementary.