To the Editor:
The fight for the referendum building bond for Robbinsdale Public Schools is on. The ballot language chosen and social media battle lines drawn. Like any fight, there are two sides. One side will prevail and the other side will lose.
The questions being asked by the district in November for the building bond are not open ended. You’re in or you’re out. I know that irks people. It irks me! I’m supposed to just sign off on a blank check?
We have to get past that. As community members in this instance we have less of a voice and more of a choice.
We actually do have to say “yes” and sign off on a blank check.
We have to trust the people in charge of educating our children. We have to believe that they know what they are doing and have only the best of intentions.
For some, that might be impossible and I’m genuinely sorry. I hope you’ve open-enrolled and have found a place that works for your family.
To my point; the hot take I must get off of my chest if I hope to get any sleep between now and Nov. 3:
You can choose to support Robbinsdale Public Schools. You can choose not to support Robbinsdale Public Schools. You cannot say you support Robbinsdale Public Schools and vote “no” on the referendum.
The district has laboriously crafted three questions. Voters pick yes or no. That’s it. That’s the long and short of it.
We can kindly agree to disagree on which way to vote but the objective truth is voting “no” is actively withholding support from the district.
Voting yes means you are willing to pay more property taxes to better fund public education in your community. Voting no means you are not.
If my writing this here or on social media makes you feel a certain way, think about why. Connecting words with actions can be hard and uncomfortable. If you talk the talk about supporting public education, passing the building bond referendum for Robbinsdale Public Schools is how you walk the walk.
Rachael Flanery
Golden Valley