LETTER: Bond is a ‘step in the right direction’

Oct. 29, 2021

To the community: 

I grew up in Vermont and have made my home in Waterbury for the last 10 years. I’m a parent to children at both Brookside Primary School and Crossett Brook Middle School, and married to an educator in the district.

I’ve read quite a few opinion pieces on the bond. Personally, I don’t put a lot of stock in assumptions. Claiming an educator crying in their car, or a national Tik Tok trend of destroying school property has any correlation to Harwood spirit is purely anecdotal and frankly disrespectful to those who work at the school.

If anyone is concerned about student test scores and/or enrollment, know there is science behind effective learning spaces. One study of 21,000 U.S. students showed that, over one school year, kids who were exposed to more sunlight during their school day displayed 26% higher reading outcomes and 20% higher math outcomes than kids in less sunny classrooms. I encourage everyone to look into how learning environments can help or hinder cognitive performance, mood, and creativity. Please don’t discount these changes thinking they won’t make a difference in how students perform. This bond is a step in the right direction for better learning.

Investing in our schools is always a good idea. Great schools increase property values and attract new families to our district. I’m voting yes on the bond because it will provide our community with the best learning environment for our children and future generations.

Lisa Sholk

Waterbury