Letter to the Editor - Aurora Grandparents Make Their Case for Issue 4 School Bond

Editor’s Note: The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by an Aurora resident. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Aurora Pulse. We welcome letters from all perspectives on the school levy and other local issues. Every community reaches a moment when it must decide what is owed to the next generation. For Aurora City Schools and for my family, that moment is now. On November 3, 2026, voters will decide on Issue #4, which will fund a new elementary school and long-overdue repairs to our existing buildings. My husband and I are voting YES, and we hope you will too. We moved to Aurora 40 plus years ago and had two children who attended the Aurora City Schools. We supported school levies and bond issues throughout these years with no thought that our grandchildren would attend the Aurora City Schools as well. Our grandchildren are now in Aurora City Schools. Little did we know that our work in the 1990s would support the education of our next generation. Now the time has come for all of us to consider another bond issue for future generations. Dick and I have always believed that the strength of a community is the quality of the schools and the education that they provide. Aurora has shown continual improvement in the years we have lived here. Please consider what the bond issue would provide. Craddock is more than 100 years old. Roof leaks, heating and cooling systems failures that were once occasionally happening are constant. Every dollar spent patching a failing boiler is a dollar not spent in the classroom. Deferred maintenance doesn’t disappear. It gets more expensive every year we wait. A new elementary school addresses a second problem: overcrowding and growing enrollment. Younger students deserve safe, modern spaces built for how children learn today… with secure entrances, accessible design and room for small-group instruction. Teachers do their best work when the buildings support their instruction. My husband and I understand that no one loves tax increases. The District has listened to the community with Issue 4. It is a scaled-back plan focused on Aurora’s most urgent needs today. The motto of Replace, Repair and Protect addresses our essential needs today to avoid paying more tomorrow. Be aware that these funds are legally restricted to facilities and cannot be used for salaries or operations. Previous generations of Aurora residents built the schools we rely on today. Now it’s our turn to do the same for the students who will follow. Please vote YES on the Aurora City Schools’ bond issue on November 3, 2026. Your children and maybe your grandchildren are counting on us. Richard and Diane Bush Have something to say about the levy or another local issue? Anyone can submit a Letter to the Editor to desk@neohio.news. Frequently Asked Questions What is Issue 4 in Aurora? Issue 4 is a bond issue for Aurora City Schools on the November 3 ballot. According to the authors, it would fund a new elementary school and repairs to the district’s existing buildings. Why do supporters want to replace Craddock Elementary? The authors say Craddock is more than 100 years old and has constant roof leaks and heating and cooling system failures. They argue that patching the building takes money away from classrooms. Can Issue 4 money be used for teacher salaries? No. The authors note that bond funds are legally restricted to facilities and cannot be used for salaries or operations. How is Issue 4 different from earlier proposals? The authors describe Issue 4 as a scaled-back plan focused on Aurora’s most urgent needs, built around the motto Replace, Repair and Protect. When do Aurora voters decide on the school bond? Voters will decide on Issue 4 on Election Day, November 3.