Vote For the Starkville School Bond Issue
By Brother Rogers
Starkville is a city on the move. There is an energy about Starkville, from the revitalized downtown to burgeoning neighborhoods to the new construction at Mississippi State University.
Starkville is growing, and that’s why we need to vote for the school bond issue on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. The Starkville schools are excellent, but like a successful church that attracts new members, there is a critical need to expand the capacity of the schools to maintain this level of excellence.
Every education expert in the country believes that small class sizes are critical to successful learning, higher test scores, and increasing graduation rates. The heart of the new construction at the four campuses in Starkville is approximately 60 new classrooms. That simple fact alone should be enough to persuade anyone who cares about our community’s future to vote for the school bond issue.
Our schools need to be expanded and renovated to accommodate the current students and future students who will come as our economy expands. It seems like good economic news is in the newspaper on a regular basis.
For example, PACCAR held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new engine plant on July 17. The $400 million facility will certainly bring new residents to Starkville. Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, opened in 2004 and has plans to hire 200 more employees in the next few years. SeverCorr is constructing the world’s newest state-of-the art steel mill, which will produce nearly 450 high-paying direct jobs. The Cornerstone Industrial Park will soon attract a major manufacturing company.
Mississippi State University, the largest employer in the county and the largest university in the state, is expanding, not shrinking. The Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park is bursting at the seams and nearly full.
More than 1,000 new housing units have been built in Starkville since 2004, including a whopping 500 single-family homes.
These positive facts about economic development lead to one indisputable conclusion for Starkville as a community: the capacity of our schools must be strengthened and expanded to accommodate our growth. Our future depends on it.
How we vote on this school bond issue will say a lot about Starkville as a community and will even reflect on the image of Mississippi State University. Is Starkville a progressive community that looks ahead to a bright future? Is the largest university in the state located in a community that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to educating its own?
Starkville and Mississippi State University have experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, while the stewards of our school system have stretched every penny and squeezed into every space to help our schools keep up.
Now is the time to come to the aid of our children and children yet unborn who will benefit from new construction and renovation of our schools.
Often we hear someone say, “I wish I could make a difference in my community.” On Tuesday, October 9, we all have a chance to make a difference for our children. Take pride in Starkville. Vote for the school bond issue and keep Starkville on the move.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.
Starkville is a city on the move. There is an energy about Starkville, from the revitalized downtown to burgeoning neighborhoods to the new construction at Mississippi State University.
Starkville is growing, and that’s why we need to vote for the school bond issue on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. The Starkville schools are excellent, but like a successful church that attracts new members, there is a critical need to expand the capacity of the schools to maintain this level of excellence.
Every education expert in the country believes that small class sizes are critical to successful learning, higher test scores, and increasing graduation rates. The heart of the new construction at the four campuses in Starkville is approximately 60 new classrooms. That simple fact alone should be enough to persuade anyone who cares about our community’s future to vote for the school bond issue.
Our schools need to be expanded and renovated to accommodate the current students and future students who will come as our economy expands. It seems like good economic news is in the newspaper on a regular basis.
For example, PACCAR held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new engine plant on July 17. The $400 million facility will certainly bring new residents to Starkville. Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, opened in 2004 and has plans to hire 200 more employees in the next few years. SeverCorr is constructing the world’s newest state-of-the art steel mill, which will produce nearly 450 high-paying direct jobs. The Cornerstone Industrial Park will soon attract a major manufacturing company.
Mississippi State University, the largest employer in the county and the largest university in the state, is expanding, not shrinking. The Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park is bursting at the seams and nearly full.
More than 1,000 new housing units have been built in Starkville since 2004, including a whopping 500 single-family homes.
These positive facts about economic development lead to one indisputable conclusion for Starkville as a community: the capacity of our schools must be strengthened and expanded to accommodate our growth. Our future depends on it.
How we vote on this school bond issue will say a lot about Starkville as a community and will even reflect on the image of Mississippi State University. Is Starkville a progressive community that looks ahead to a bright future? Is the largest university in the state located in a community that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to educating its own?
Starkville and Mississippi State University have experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, while the stewards of our school system have stretched every penny and squeezed into every space to help our schools keep up.
Now is the time to come to the aid of our children and children yet unborn who will benefit from new construction and renovation of our schools.
Often we hear someone say, “I wish I could make a difference in my community.” On Tuesday, October 9, we all have a chance to make a difference for our children. Take pride in Starkville. Vote for the school bond issue and keep Starkville on the move.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.
