The Iron County Democrats vote YES for the ICSB proposed school bond
At our last general meeting, the Iron County Democrats voted unanimously to support the Iron County School District’s proposed bond. We encourage all Iron County voters to also vote “yes” on the school bond.
While we understand the frustration felt by Iron County residents as they see their property taxes rise, we also understand the acute needs our schools are experiencing in the face of increased population growth. From 2009 to 2023 our elementary schools grew by 545 students. Our current schools simply cannot accommodate this many students. Currently 350 of our students and their teachers are housed in portable trailers. Most of these trailers lack easy access to water and bathrooms. Any one who has spent time with young children can imagine the challenges and interruptions this poses for learning.
Our local highschools are also feeling the crunch. While the school district would love to offer all interested students access to alternative highschool experiences, they are constrained by lack of space. Cedar City’s innovative and successful Launch High school can only serve 100 students at a time. 200 students are on its wait list.
Some members of our community erroneously claim that ICSD increases taxes every two years. We would like to point out that according to widely available public records, it has been 5 years since the last increase. There are also claims that ICSD spends more money than other school districts in the state. In fact, 37 out of 41 Utah school districts receive more property tax per student than ICSD. While our local educators and administrators do amazing work with limited resources and we are proud of what they and our students accomplish, they need our help. For the relatively modest sum of $32.36 a year per $100k in home value, we can fund a 10th elementary school and an alternative school building.
When you cast your ballot this year, please think of the future of our children and our community. A yes vote on the ICSD Bond 2024 will prove a great return on investment. Investments in education result in healthier communities and economies. We encourage everyone to learn more about this important issue by going to https://www.irondistrict.org/page/bond-2024.