Chronicle Editorial

By: 
Chronicle Staff

Narrowing needs at North Side

 

A $1.4 million improvement plan at North Side Elementary has sparked extensive discussion from the Hampton-Dumont Board of Education in the past two months. Though it’s clear the building needs the updates, it’s important that the district looks at the long game while planning ahead.

     The $1.4 million project is only Phase I of a multi-year plan. It would use a large majority of the district’s current reserve funds to cover renovation expenses, which are necessary to accommodate kindergarten’s move into the building next fall. While there’s a long list of important updates needed at North Side, a few stand out that should receive the bulk of H-D’s attention and funding this year.

     Technology improvements, electricity upgrades, and a new heating, ventilation and cooling system seem to be the building’s most pressing needs. Engineering firms have noted that North Side’s electric infrastructure is exceptionally outdated, so updating it is vital before classes start next fall. The boiler is also on its last leg, according to maintenance reports, which means it has to go in favor of a new system. These things are important and should take priority moving forward.

     Phase I includes many other updates, but it might be necessary to leave some of those behind in favor of more urgent needs as the construction season nears. This project is going to be on an extremely crunched schedule, and leaving some projects out has the potential to ease the time burden while simultaneously saving money for later. A large portion of H-D’s reserves will be spent on the upgrades, but it’s always nice to keep some of that around for emergencies.

     North Side has needed these updates for a long time. The district has $1.4 million to spend on Phase I, but it might be in the school’s best interest to tackle concerns like tech updates, electricity improvements, and heating and cooling replacement before spending the entire sum. The crunched timeframe could lead to added construction costs, so trimming Phase I’s scope might prove financially beneficial in the long run.

    

Producing more participation at the polls?

 

A new plan approved last week by the state voter registration commission is a step in the right direction for increased Election Day turnout in Iowa.

     The five-member commission unanimously approved a rule that allows Iowans to register to vote online if they have a government-issued ID like a driver’s license. With the proper regulations and controls, the new system would utilize the department of transportation’s electronic database and lessen the likelihood of fraud or other questionable activity. Officials hope to implement the new system before the 2016 election.

     Online registration is another positive addition to Iowa’s already stellar voting laws. We’ve been the envy of many other states for years, as more restrictive regulations in less enlightened regions of the country have led to heavy criticism and other controversy. We have same-day voter registration, early polling stations, and no voter ID barriers. These policies create an open environment that’s more conducive to civic involvement, and that’s worth celebrating.

     Online voter registration will add convenience to a somewhat dated process. Not everyone takes time to fill out registration forms anymore, and it’s easy to forget if you get busy during election season. This new policy eliminates excuses by boiling the registration process down to a few clicks of a mouse or taps of a screen. By 2016, the power to register will literally be at our fingertips.

     This new program is merely the evolution of modern day voting policy. Hopefully it will increase participation at the polls, but at the very least it adds convenience to the process. Online registration is yet another highlight of Iowa’s upstanding voting policies and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be voting online with our tablets from the comfort of our own living room.

Hampton Chronicle

9 Second Street NW
Hampton, IA 50441
Phone: 641-456-2585
Fax: 1-800-340-0805
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