I prefer option two, below, which our new school superintendent has chosen not to attempt.
A referendum would permit a person like me, who has no children of his own, to nonetheless vote with my wallet in favor of the principle of secular public education, because I believe that secular public education is one significant hallmark of a diverse and civilized society. I do not believe that a diverse and civil society is furthered by fragmentation into various tax-supported Madrasahs.
My guess is that in terms of property tax, it would cost me a dollar a day for the entire year to keep neighborhood schools open. A referendum would also permit us to identify quite clerely who supports a diverse and civil society, and who isn’t sure. This would be instructive, allowing us a chance to debate openly the nature of selfishness as furthered by tax “rebellion.”
Superintendent asking board to close four schools, by Chris Morris (Tribune).
Option two would have been to go to the public with a referendum to raise property taxes — which would have been on average of $225 a year on a $100,000 house …
