Posted 4/25/01 Itís in everyoneís interest to vote yes To the editor: I want to encourage all those receiving mail-in ballots from the North Branch School District to vote ìyesîon both questions. There is a tendency for us to be skeptical; often turning down bond issues the first couple of times they are presented. We all know that our community is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. We also know how important it is for our children to have access to modern technology. I recently hired a person for a clerical position. The person I hired was the one with the best computer skills. Those without good computer skills did not receive an interview. We need to vote ìyesî on Question 1 because there is a critical need for classrooms and it will not go away over the next ten years. Voting ìnoî will only add to the eventual cost, and in the interim, it will be our children and our community that will pay the price. We also need to vote ìyesî on Question 2 because it is absolutely critical that our children receive the technological training they will need to compete in the labor force. Of course, like any decision, we expect that our school officials and school board will make wise use of the funds that are approved. I believe they have made good decisions in the past and we should continue to hold them accountable for the same in the future. We also need to understand that that by approving both questions, we are leveraging other funds. Our ìyesî votes are therefore good investments. ìNoî votes may on the surface seem like a way to keep property taxes down or making a statement in opposition to growth, but it is more like being ìpenny-wise and pound-foolish.î Voting ìno,î will not stop growth. In my opinion, voting ìnoî will have a negative impact on the education of our children and result in higher costs in the future. Vote ìyesî not only for our children, but also for us. It is in the interests of everyone to see both questions pass. Urge your neighbors to vote ìyes.î Help them understand why it is in their interests to do so. Robert G. Walz North Branch ©Post Review