There are many reasons why the community of Newton should support the Berg reconstruction plan.
The first reason is for the kids. Teachers teach and children learn much differently than they did when Berg was first constructed nearly 50 years ago. Classroom teaching, including a heavy emphasis on lecture and book reading, has taken a back seat to more audio/visual part of the learning process, including group learning and group presentations. The new Berg campus will accommodate the various state of the art learning techniques. By having a state of the art learning institution, it will likely serve as a spark to increase the passion for learning for all children, including those who may be at risk for dropping out of school in the future years.
The second reason is for the community of Newton. To be attractive for younger families, we need a competitive advantage with the other communities surrounding the central Iowa area. I believe we must have great parks, great family friendly entertainment options, great healthcare facilities and great schools.
Since arriving in Newton in 1996, I have had the pleasure of recruiting many professional health care providers to Newton. I have found it can be very easy to explain to these physicians the easy 30-45 minute drive to Des Moines for the expanded entertainment, dining and retail stores that are available. However, most times one of the most important concerns that they have is related to their children’s education. When it comes to relocating their families to Newton, they generally want to be assured that their children will have the best opportunities possible for education and learning. I strongly feel by having state of the art schools that we will be better suited for physician recruitment in the future.
Lastly, if you haven’t noticed we are seeing an abundance of sold signs that have been popping up around the community. Just this past week, I noticed three out of state moving trucks that were all in Newton on the very same day. We should all see this as positive news and it should bring a collective breath of fresh air. It appears that we have momentum, and we need to keep moving in the right direction. Please join me in voting “yes” on Sept. 13 to continue the positive momentum that has been going on throughout our great community.
Mark Thayer
Newton