Rich Township Coalition for Better Schools: When you awake tomorrow morning, April 1st, there will be eight days left before the election

When you awake tomorrow morning, April 1st, there will be eight days left before the election

When you awake tomorrow morning, April 1st, there will be eight days left before the election on April 9th. Eight days to work for the opportunity to change the direction of District 227 for the better, eight days left for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of Rich Township students who will attend the District 227 schools during your four year tenure. Eight days left to restore pride in District 227 schools.

Having the opportunity to know each of you, for some over many years, and others a shorter time, I know the four of you are more than capable of producing the turnaround. With Cheryl, you can put the "SS 227" back on course and steer it away from the "icebergs". But you are not there yet. There is no reliable predictor of what the results of April 9th will be. None of you is guaranteed any particular outcome from this election.

With no guarantees, each of you must re-commit tomorrow morning to giving these last eight days all you can offer. The children are worth it. Each of you must pick up the telephone (or e-mail) and ask your friends, neighbors and associates to pick up the phone (or e-mail), and ask their friends, neighbors and associates to pick up the phone (or e-mail) and make sure they all come out to vote to support "your efforts".

Each of you must also find time to talk to voters, away from your comfort area, and help them to understand why they should support "your efforts". Ninety-five percent of voter don't know any of the candidates, and eighty percent of voters have not had any personal contact with any candidate. Whoever contacts them will likely be able to influence their four votes.

But please, please, understand that the term "your efforts" really has nothing to do with "you", but has everything to do with what you believe needs to happen to change the course of District 227. What needs to happen? Without being presumptive, I think we all understand that the change starts with, and requires, a change in the majority thinking on the board and a change in the majority leadership on the board. That can only be guaranteed with a minimum of three of you elected. So should you go for three spots?

Of course not, not only do you want to go for all four to provide a built in "margin for error", you also want four to send a clear, loud, decisive message to all who have stood in the way of excellence in our schools, or have looked the other way as children are robbed of their futures. A message that tolerance for anything not in the best interest for our children is zero.

WE WANT ALL FOUR SEATS. How do you get them? YOU ASK EACH VOTERS FOR THEM. Remind each voter than you cannot do the job alone and that voting for a known, clear, majority is more important than any personal comfort level. If necessary, ask them to do it for you.

So enjoy your day today with your families, and be ready to come out swinging tomorrow morning. Let's rally those who support us and create one huge team to run through the finish line together on these final days. This is how winners win. This is how history is made. This is how communities prosper.

LET'S DO IT!
Fred