Posted 12:13 PM by Susan Darst Williams

EDUCATION ELECTION PICKS, CONTINUED

Visit www.voterinformation.org for good background. Check back here Monday for a recap of ballot-marking recommendations for education-related races. Here are new picks:

BOND ISSUE

Elkhorn Public Schools, $9.9 million
(high school additions, land for future schools, and six smaller renovation projects)
FOR

Elkhorn Public Schools, $2.9 million
(indoor swimming pool)
AGAINST

City of Elkhorn, $4.5 million
(community recreation center with gym space, exercise space, a walking/jogging track and meeting rooms connected to the proposed pool)
AGAINST

Why: Growth in Elkhorn and solid economics justify shouldering additional debt for school expansion. But the other projects invade the private-sector arena, duplicate services, and are not good choices for government. The $4 million, 37,000-square-foot YMCA near the 275 expressway in nearby Valley is nearing completion with many of the same amenities. The Alegent health club’s pools nearby are rarely full. Elkhorn’s schools and library are empty at night when community members might want to have meetings. Lastly, Marian High School and others have won many state swimming championships without a pool, but have wisely shared pool facilities elsewhere. So should Elkhorn.


SCHOOL BOARDS

All these are good people with a record of fairness and fiscal responsibility:

Elkhorn:
KIM FASSE

Millard:
DEBRA ATTERSON

Papillion-LaVista:
DEBORAH BOYKIN

Omaha Public Schools
The only race with a significant difference in candidates is Subdistrict 7:
MARK MARTINEZ

Ralston:
MICHAEL D. BARKER
RONALD TIETGEN