On Monday, April 1, from 9:30 to 9:50 am, students at both Central and South walked out to show their support for passing the $140 million referendum. The funding will be spent to restore programs and undertake major improvements at Central and Hinsdale South high school.
¨I think the walkout made a great and positive impact,” said Maia Halle, junior.
Marelena Halikias
Students brought posters and shouted chants to raise awareness about the importance of the vote to the school.
If passed, money from the referendum would be used to replace the decades-old pools at both schools, for a combined cost of $24.3 million, renovating both cafeterias for $7.9 million, over $11 million of security, safety, and accessibility upgrades, plus various technology upgrades, and more.
Students who walked out hoped to raise concern over saving their schools. The organizers of the walkout hoped to bring publicity for the vote through publicity.
¨The main idea of the referendum was to remind the community right before the walkout that in the end, it is about the kids, not taxes and neighbors against neighbors,” said the owner of the Instagram account @studentsford86, a sophomore at Central who chose to stay anonymous. ¨The media coverage of that was also important in order to spread the word on how many students felt strongly enough about it to walk out of their classes.¨
Many students felt strongly enough about the referendum to participate in the walkout because if not passed, numerous school sports, clubs, and other activities will be cut.
¨Ever since I was young I knew that performing arts was my passion,¨ said Charlie Cave, junior. ¨High school is supposed to be a time that prepares you for college and your future. If the referendum fails, the music and drama departments will face serious repercussions. We’ll go from 5 shows a year to 2. The drama club itself will be cut. The choir accompanist will be fired. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Without these, I fear how my future will be affected.¨