A quality education is the greatest gift that you can give yourself, your children and our community. What better way to show support of a quality, progressive education than to support the new school complex bond issue on Nov. 3!

We are a community in the progress of change, so we must keep moving forward. Over the last few years we have made many positive improvements to our community. Our citizens can be very proud of the vision, growth, and hard work that have taken place over the last few years. The YMCA, Marshall Parks, Martin Community Center, Saline County Ambulance facility, Fitzgibbon Community Cancer Center, Enhanced 911 Dispatch Center, and the new Saline County courthouse renovations are wonderful assets to a progressive community.

It is imperative to the ongoing growth of our community to move forward with continued building support. Our schools are in need of a building plan for quality schools now and in the future. It is time!

Education is not stagnating, and neither should our schools be. It is our responsibility to keep up with the ongoing process of building our schools for future technology, space to grow, learn and build a sense of community pride in sharing the responsibility of continued educational success.

There is hardly ever a time when money and funding come at a discount. Marshall schools have an opportunity to build ... with a one-time-only stimulus incentive that will save an estimated $6 million in tax-free bonds. Building a new school will never be more reasonable and the cost will only increase as our school buildings continue to deteriorate.

The upkeep of our existing schools that have leaking roofs, old heating and cooling units that never work, not enough space, old trailers for classrooms, etc. is an enormous expense. It is time to change that never-ending "black hole" expense from being a burden into money used to build new progressive schools.

What better time to be supportive of our community with continued building growth! Be a part of something great!

Editor's note: This letter was published in The Marshall Democrat-News Tuesday, Oct. 20.