Posted 4/25/01 Concerns over school referendum explained To the editor: Iím writing this letter to address some concerns Iíve heard in regards to the proposed bond and levy referendum for the North Branch Area School District 138. People have questioned the districtís planning and why we need the school now. This is a good question. Our planning goes back to the additions to the middle school and high school. At that time, the community supported funds that would be used to purchase land for future school development. We planned the next building for the school district would be an elementary school. Now is the time for us to go to the community and get your approval to build that new elementary school. Most student growth has been at the lower grades, and that is where our needs for space are. By building a third, fourth and fifth grade school for 1,000 students, we will meet our space needs in the elementary grades. Also, by removing fifth grade from the middle school, that building will house sixth, seventh and eighth grades for many years without needing additions to the school. We hear many different opinions on the Main Street School, and our plan is to use it for district offices and kindergarten. Most of this school was built in the 1950ís and is not much older than the primary school. I donít think we can walk away from this school. There are no plans to make changes to the building beyond normal maintenance. If the bond passes, the grade configurations will be: kindergarten in the Main Street School, first and second in the primary, third, fourth and fifth in the new building, sixth, seventh and eighth in the middle school, and the high school will remain ninth through twelfh. Changes on the operating levy will be used to increase funds to maintain the districtís technology. Our estimate to maintain our computer systems is $500,000 a year, and the proposed change in the operating levy would raise these funds. Our students are headed into a world driven by technology, and I believe we need to send them there with the best technology skills we can give them. I look at our school district as a community made up of numerous cities, towns and townships. This community has supported our schools over the years and I hope it will continue to do so in the future. Feel free to call me, 651-674-7510, other board members, or the district office if you have any questions. Rick Olseen Sunrise Township North Branch School Board ©Post Review