Rally for Gower Referendum To Take Place Saturday morning

A rally in support of a to facilities is scheduled for Saturday morning. The rally will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the circle next to Sports Authority at the Willowbrook Town Center.

The Gower School District needs $9 million dollars to pay for a list of at both and Gower West Elementary.

At the top of the list is the creation of three science rooms and a science lab at the middle school and renovating the gym and increasing the size of the early childhood classroom at the elementary school.

The district currently does not have enough funds to pay for the improvements, but Gower residents could approve a referendum on March 20 to issue bonds to pay for them. This referendum would extend the existing debt service payments for a  $1.85 million bond voters approved in 2004 for roof and technology improvements at Gower Middle School.

Mayor Gary Grasso has endorsed the referendum saying that a good school district attracts buyers and has a strong positive impact on all homes in a community. 

"The Gower referendum is a win-win for all residents without increasing property taxes.  I urge everyone to vote yes on March 20," said Grasso.

Referendum supporters are asking people attending the rally to wear green tomorrow. Free doughnuts and hot chocolate will be provided. To find out more about the effort, people can visit the website for the "Vote Yes for Gower" committee. Photos of the facilities in need of improvement have been posted on the committee's Facebook page.

Attached to this article is the rally flyer and a question and answer sheet about the referendum that is being distributed by the Vote Yes for Gower committee.

If the referendum passes, remodeling work would begin this summer. Larger construction and remodeling projects would begin in the Spring of 2013.