Guy Stuff has been taking a break for the last few weeks while making room for some great information on shopping locally from my friend Lee Elliott and the New Boston SIDC. Man, that is some good stuff. I hope you read the last three editorial pieces from Lee and I hope you see even better the advantage to shopping locally. Spending our dollars at home helps all of us have a better place to call home, wherever that home might be.
Now that I am back in the saddle it is my hope that you folks out in Redwater are taking heed to the upcoming bond election that hopes to make the Redwater ISD an even better district to educate your children.
Look, I know that paying more taxes never sounds like a good thing. But if you look at the numbers across the board, the good people of Redwater will still be paying less school tax than other districts of a comparable size in the area.
If there is one thing I have learned in my years of covering our local school districts it is that the folks in Redwater are extremely proud of their district. Being a Dragon means something over there, and for good reason. The Redwater ISD has a long list of accomplishments including on the field and in the classroom. From academic accolades to success in athletics, the students and staff at Redwater ISD can always be found excelling in something.
With all of that to be proud of, doesn’t it make sense to give those students and staff the best possible facilities. The district upgrades proposed by this upcoming bond would go a long way to making some much needed improvements. I know for a fact that the proposed upgrades won’t satisfy everyone, but they are a good start.
As one who has covered a lot of games in Redwater at a baseball or softball diamond, I can say firsthand that I hope to see a new complex out there one day for those athletes. As everyone knows, the current ballfields are a tad prone to flooding. But, I also know this fact. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Burns loves her some softball and when the opportunity arises to make those improvements, they will come.
While I am talking about Dr. Burns, let me say this. I have known Kelly Burns since she was the superintendent at Avery. She was there when my kids were still in school. She was a great educator then and she is still one today. When a high school student tells you how much they love someone, you tend to pay attention, and my kids never had anything but positive comments to say about Kelly Burns. For that reason alone, and many more, I have always been willing to look past the fact that she is a diehard Aggie. (Hookem Horns) Seriously, there is not a doubt in my heart or mind that if Dr. Burns believes this bond proposal is a good thing for Redwater, then I believe it as well. Do the research, look at the numbers, and if you are eligible, get the tax exemptions that are out there. There is more information on that in our story on the front page. Then vote for what you feel is best for the district.
Above all else, let’s all find a way to be nicer to each other. Let’s all do more to adhere to that Golden Rule and let’s turn our focus to the positive things in life. Let’s maybe spend less time watching the things of politics and more time watching the good things of our little corner of the world.
