New technology, new fields and new security: These are just some of the improvements that students and teachers can look forward to with the recent approval of the Verona Public Schools Referendum.

On March 11, the Verona Schools Referendum vote was passed, which would enable the Board of Education to make many positive improvements and changes to the schools.

The vote was an important one for all residents of Verona. If the referendum had not passed, the project would have lost 2.7 million dollars in state aid, and the problems it addresses would only have grown more expensive as they remained ignored.

This is something that the whole town got involved in. For the last few weeks before the vote, residents were spreading information about this vote.  In the end, 63.28 percent of the voters voted in favor of the referendum.

Talking to students, it became apparent that many students knew a lot about what the referendum was and what changes were going to happen. One thing that students are especially excited for is the new field. The referendum will give money to make improvements to the upper field, as well as putting turf on the lower field for baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse.

“I am happy for the future soccer team, but jealous as well, because traveling to practice was always a stressful!” says VHS junior, Kelly Carr. With the new turf field, everything is right on campus.” Because the school cannot use the upper field due to safety issues, the soccer and lacrosse teams currently have to get to Centennial Field on Linn Drive for practice.

The upper field was not only used for sporting events, graduation has traditionally been held here, as well. Junior Claire Fitzpatrick says, “I wish we could have taken part in the tradition by graduating on our home field, but it is good to know that tradition will soon continue.”  There are, however, no plans at this time to move graduation back from Caldwell College, its new home as of last year.

Another problem that the schools are facing now is that the band room is too small to accommodate all of the students. “This year (the band) has so many kids; the new band room will be great”, says Kelly Clark. The referendum will allow the Board of Education to accommodate the entire VHS Music Program.

Technology is something that is very important in our lives today and we use it almost every day for work in school. The technology in many of the schools is up to ten years old. With the approval of the referendum, students and teachers can enjoy new technology updates for the school libraries.

Most of the work that is being done is going toward fixing the high school. Another main problem in the school that will be fixed is the heating system. The heating system needs repairs because it is 15 years old and has sustained 10 leaks in the past year.

The approval of the referendum will allow the town to make so many necessary improvements, making the schools and town a better place.