I want to urge CSOI to do the right thing and work with the WCSD towards a better future for all of the children and the taxpayers.
If you truly want to improve education, then here is your opportunity. Through the $20 membership fees and donors, you have built up financial resources that were intended to further education. Instead of a costly appeal, wasting money on expensive legal fees, please consider using those funds towards education (their intended purpose). As our district moves forward with a plan to renovate Eisenhower for a bright future, you have an opportunity to provide benefits to the children there. You can start a scholarship program for high school students who cannot afford to take advantage of the DE program. Many of the children at the LEC are from the northern attendance area; you can make a donation to the LEC that can help further their opportunities. You can look into various other educational opportunities to enhance the attendance area that you hold much pride in. You can also help the sports programs that are important to your community. By working in collaboration with the district, you reinforce the lessons that we all teach our children about working/playing together. You reinforce the lessons that many of our young athletes learn on the field, that working together only makes the team stronger.
If you choose to ignore this plea, to help to make our district stronger, then shame on all of you. I hope all who have donated/may donate in the future take note of this. Holding out, being wasteful, acting spiteful and refusing to work with the district is simply irresponsible. Spending the financial resources that you have accepted for education should not be wasted on costly legal fees. The costs that you will force upon the district to spend on this costly project will be coming off of the backs of all taxpayers and the backs of the students, including your own children who will continue to be in the WCSD until you make other arrangements or the charter is appealed.
I truly hope that you will work with the district and use your assets directly for the children that they were raised to help. I am a supporter of the green shirt movement but I would be willing to burn my green shirts and meet halfway with the plan our district is moving forward with, if you will consider accepting that we are all one county and one community.
Nicole Peterson
Warren