Critical investment in future
As president of the Prospect Heights Education Association, I am writing to express our strong support for the upcoming referendum on the ballot this April 1. A “yes” vote will help our district meet the state’s mandate for full-day kindergarten and address ongoing challenges at our early education grade level center, Eisenhower.
We believe this referendum is a critical investment in the future of our community and the education of our children. PHEA highly values our Preschool and Kindergarten programs. Early education is the foundation for lifelong learning and research consistently shows that children who attend early education programs perform better in math and reading later on.
We are excited about the opportunity to offer more instructional time for our kindergarten students. Increased instructional time will enable our youngest learners to develop further academic skills and vital competencies, including cooperation, problem-solving and self-regulation.
Unfortunately, our district is currently facing significant challenges. We lack the space to implement full-day Kindergarten to meet the requirements of the unfunded State Mandate. Eisenhower is already overcrowded and students’ learning environments are being impacted.
Early education specialists are forced to conduct sessions in shared spaces, compromising student privacy and focus. The nurse lacks a dedicated student restroom, creating an uncomfortable situation for sick children. The absence of a dedicated fine arts space means teachers must rely on mobile carts, limiting curriculum options and confining students to their classrooms throughout the day. Safety concerns arise from limited parking and bottlenecks during drop-off and pick-up times.
A “no” vote will force us to fund full-day kindergarten by cutting existing programs and increasing class sizes. Surrounding districts have already passed referendums to support this new mandate. Our students deserve equal opportunities. We urge you to vote “ye” and invest in our children, schools and community’s future.
Tina Polster, President
Prospect Heights Education Association