SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
May 11, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 5/16/17
In this edition:
*Welcome, Zuri!
*One Community. One Bond.
*Inside Out Fundraiser
*Friday Night Concert Series
*Did You Know?
*Welcome, Zuri!
I
am excited to announce the birth of our first grandchild! Zuri James Foote (a
daughter) was born Wednesday, May 10 at UIHC. Parents are our oldest daughter
Rachel Sullivan and her boyfriend Collin Foote. Zuri came along at 12:47 AM,
and weighs 6 pounds, twelve ounces.
I
had the opportunity to be in the delivery room during the birth, and I have to
say, it was amazing! I have experienced a lot of things with a lot of kids over
the years, but this was the first time I have been a part of childbirth!
Mother, father, and daughter are all doing well. Oh, and Grandpa,
too! He’s doing great! J
*One Community. One Bond.
The ICCSD is going to the voters on September 12 with a bond
referendum. I wholeheartedly support it, and have joined the group urging
passage – One Community. One Bond.
Here are my
thoughts:
1. Our kids
need it. Johnson County keeps growing, and our schools haven't kept up. We add
over 300 students per year in the ICCSD; the equivalent of one elementary
school. Our kids deserve climate controls. They deserve rooms for art, music,
and PE. If nothing changes, 60% of our students will be forced to have class in
a temporary classroom. And ADA accommodations are a matter of federal law!
2. Our
teachers deserve it. Working conditions vary wildly in the ICCSD. Our teachers
are magnificent, and at a minimum deserve to work in safe, comfortable
environments.
3. Johnson
County IS education! Education is at our core. Education is our biggest
industry, our biggest employers, and our greatest point of pride. We are
defined by education.
4. Buildings
schools is great for the local construction industry.
That is why I support the bond. Now allow me to address some of
the bond’s critics:
Some say, "You can't trust the Board." All the more
reason to pass a bond! Bonding language spells out every project. Passing a
bond is the best way to hold them accountable.
There
is an old Zen proverb: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After
enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” I view the bond vote in much the same
way: “Hate the Board? Our kids need the bond. Love the Board? Our kids need the
bond.”
For
adults to allow their petty political differences to stand in the way of
facilities our children need is simply not cool. This is not about the Board,
and not about the Administration. Neither group will be here for long; our
children will be. While the adults bicker, the children suffer.
Some say, "It is too expensive." The ICCSD has bonds
coming off the same time these would go on. It makes the overall tax increase a
very manageable $.98/$1000, or $4.25 per month on $100,000 assessed value. Even
if the bond passes, the ICCSD will still have the lowest tax rate of any urban
district in Iowa – lower than our neighboring districts.
Some
complain because the proposed bond would be the largest in state history. So?
The 2003 Yes for Kids campaign, which among other things built North Central
Junior High, Tate High, and Van Allen Elementary, was the largest in state
history when it was passed.
Will
the bond perfectly anticipate every future need? Probably not. But critics of
the plan have no viable ideas. The current plan took seven years to get this
far. If we vote no, we are telling our ten year olds they will never see any
facilities improvements during their academic careers. Putting everything on
hold in search of perfection would be a clear case of the perfect being the
enemy of the good.
Finally,
please consider this: With all the negativity in
Washington and Des Moines, where they can do whatever they want to us - here is
an opportunity for us to stand up and show that we support education.
Much more information is available at passthebond.com. I hope you
will join me in supporting One Community. One Bond.
*Inside Out Fundraiser
Join
us for an afternoon of FREE MUSIC, FOOD, and FUN! The Inside Out ReEntry
Community includes people returning to Johnson County after incarceration and
their supporters, working together toward successful reintegration for
returning citizens and broad based criminal justice reform.
Join
us as we build friendships and work toward reaching our fundraising goals! Featuring
performances by B.F. Burt & Band, Jim Kennedy & Friends and others. Food
provided by Pop's BBQ and others. Sound by Steve Cook Sound Production.
Admission
is free, but donations are encouraged. Join us on Saturday, May 20 from 4-7 at
500 N. Clinton (First Baptist Church).
*Friday Night Concert Series
Friday,
May 19 marks the first Friday Night Concert of the season, and it is a doozy! David Zollo & the Body Electric
with Brian Johannesen will be rocking downtown Iowa City!
The concert runs 6:30-9:30 PM on the Ped Mall, and the Stage Sponsor is Kum & Go. The Friday Night Concert Series run
through August 25, and are a product of Summer of the Arts.
*DID YOU KNOW?
At passthebond.com you can find
detailed information about how the ICCSD Facilities Master Plan impacts schools
throughout the District. EVERYONE will see progress by the time we are
finished! There is a project sheet for every school in the District so that
people know what to expect in their neck of the woods.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 3:29 PM
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