Switching Sides

[fence]

There have been people mentioning that they have changed their vote from the last referendum. Some have gone from NO to YES and some from YES to NO.

It would be very interesting to see what issues have changed minds for and against the referendum.

So have you changed your mind? If so, why?

Please note - THIS IS NOT A THREAD TO TRY TO CONVINCE ANYONE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND. It is merely a place to post whether or not YOU or someone close to you has changed positions on the referendum since the last vote, and why.

Below is one of the reasons that was sent on to me to post, for why one of our residents changed their vote from NO last time to YES this time.

Why NO last year: This resident was uncomfortable and a little suspicious that the SB was going out for another referendum so close on the heels of the last one to build the freshman campuses. She couldn't understand how they could have been so off on their enrollment figures - in 2001 telling us we didn't need a 3rd HS, and then coming back and saying we did. Second, she just didn't feel as if the SB had done their homework and had all their "ducks in a row".

Why YES this year: She now feels as if the SB have put a lot of thought and effort into this referendum and she feels in her opinion that they have made a good case for the third high school. She is a journalist and reads everything out there regarding this referendum, so she is very well-informed.

[gatormom]

I was a strong no voter last year, or should I say a loud no voter last year. There were many reasons and some of them were even valid. I have lived in my home for 17 years and have always felt as if our area was the unwanted stepchild of 204. When you don't feel welcome, you are not going to want to spend money.

I believed a lot of what CFO was preaching, there are cheaper ways to do it, SB has made mistakes before what makes you think I believe you got it right this time, and finally, what was in it for my children.

This year during the whole boundary process, I began to think. Somebody said to me, you know it is not about quantity, it is about quality. Certainly we can fit 5000 students in each of our HSs, but do we want to and what type of education will our children get with the bandaid and splinter approach.

That is when I really began to look into the issue and decided for myself, we need a new HS. The information I have seen both for and against the referendum has helped me reach that conclusion.

I really had to change. I had to shed my "poor ol Gombert" attitude, anger at previous SBs, and decide finally what was best for all the children in the entire school district.

That is why I went from a no to a yes.

[wvhsparent]

I was a NO last time mostly due to the location and what I peceived as excessive cost of the land.
When I tried to get information out of the SB/Admin I was rebuffed and ignored.

Also I was still reeling from a cut in benefits which ultimately meant a reduction in pay. I could not take on any more new taxes. I also had a hard time with the capacity numbers the district was using.

I am a yes now.....Still don't care for the location, but I will deal with it.
Finally the SB/Admin has come out with more credible info and answered most of my questions to a degree I am comfortable with them.