Vote 'yes' on Champaign Unit 4 bond issue proposal

The proposed $65.9 million bond issue to build, rebuild and renovate Champaign Unit 4 schools isn't perfect, but bond issue proposals and tax increase referendums seldom are. You can argue and debate specific plans for individual schools forever, but this plan appropriately addresses three fundamental needs in the school district.

– It includes construction of a three-stand elementary school north of University Avenue (although a site still hasn't been chosen) that will satisfy a provision of a 2001 federal court consent decree that has been sucking money out of the school district (an estimated $2 million a year) for too long. The sooner the school district gets out from under the consent decree, the better for all. That's $2 million a year that can go into educating children, not paying out of town lawyers and consultants.