New building can fuel FM growth

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Dear Editor;

The Slaters moved to Fort Madison because of the potential.

There were many factors that went into our decision to move here from the Chicago-area after 25 years. An incredible job opportunity as the Fort Madison Superintendent, our twin daughters attending the University of Iowa, being closer to my recently widowed mother in Algona, Iowa and my husband’s parents in Quincy including my disabled veteran father-in-law. And for our 15 year-old son, a smaller town and school that were perfect fits for him.

Fort Madison needs new families. Entrepreneurs, businesses, and economic growth will follow. New residents bring their dollars with them. Young families will see the potential in our various communities and neighborhoods and will purchase new homes and renovate older houses.

You can fuel Fort Madison’s growth. It starts with our schools.

Imagine young families looking for a place to live or business owners searching for a new location. Now imagine one of the finest educational facilities in southeast Iowa. Fort Madison. A campus with a new elementary school next to our new middle school. A new elementary school with state-of-the-art learning and technology. A building with up-to-date safety and security features, accessibility to all with climate controlled and engaging learning spaces. And by revising the transportation policy, the FMCSD Board of Education will be able to offer busing to any PK-8 student in the district.

Relocating the baseball and softball fields from the current high school location to the new campus will free up much needed space. With continued community support, potential plans could include a future music and fine arts performance auditorium and dedicated practice fields. However, we cannot look to high school improvements until a new elementary school is built.

As our veteran teachers retire, we need to attract and recruit the best and brightest candidates to instruct, lead, and coach our children. Fort Madison will need those vibrant young teachers who are drawn to high-quality environments to put down roots and raise families here. We need them to join our talented staff.

We are sending our children into a highly competitive world. Whether our students are going on to college, military service, or the trades, Fort Madison needs to provide high-quality schools to educate and prepare them. Make no mistake, it’s a tough world, and whether our students are facing off against international students in college, or competing against other school district graduates for jobs here in the tri-state area, we can give them the educational facilities they need to succeed.

See the potential for Fort Madison. Vote on Tuesday June 27th.

Erin M. Slater, Ed.S.

Superintendent of Fort Madison Community Schools

bond referendum, election, letter to the editor, Pen City Current, Tuesday June 27

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