Union Community School District Board of Education President Ben Schemmel.

In my time serving on the Union School Board, I’ve learned how difficult it can be to balance needs, timing, and responsibility. On one hand, we all feel the weight of property taxes, especially in rural communities where agriculture is the backbone of our economy. On the other hand, we have a responsibility to ensure our schools are safe, functional, and positioned to serve future generations.

Our board is made up of people with different perspectives, but what unites us is faith, love for kids, and responsibility with tax dollars. The goal is not simply to build new things, but to work toward uniting our towns and communities – Dysart, La Porte City, and beyond – in using tax dollars wisely. Schools are one part of that, along with businesses, safe streets, and opportunities that keep families here and attract new ones.

A strong school system often makes the first impression for families considering a move. Good schools help hold our home values, keep services like the post office viable, and give parents confidence that our towns are worth investing in. At the same time, schools cannot carry this alone – creative communities with activities, jobs, and support networks are what keep generations here.

When the last bond didn’t meet the supermajority but did pass a simple majority, it told us something: people see the need, but want to be assured that their voices are heard and their tax dollars are spent responsibly. That is the responsibility we carry forward now – to listen, to plan carefully, and to keep moving Union Schools, and our towns, in the right direction.

I cannot tell you how to vote, but I would deeply appreciate you giving strong consideration to a “Yes” vote on this bond.

Ben Schemmel is president of the Union Community School District Board of Education and resident of Dysart.