On Nov. 5, the voters who live in the area served by Iowa Valley Community College District will have another chance to approve a $32 million General Obligation Bond. The bond failed to reach the required 60 percent majority by only a handful of votes earlier this year. The proceeds of the bond would primarily be used to fund major capital improvement projects on the Iowa Falls, Marshalltown and

Grinnell campuses.

I am an alumnus of Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. I served as Business Manager of IVCCD for almost 11 years. I was on the IVCCD Board of Directors. I can tell you, from first-hand experience, this is one of the oldest and finest college systems in Iowa.

When the Iowa community college organization was established in 1965, IVCCD (then called Merged Area 6) was light years ahead of almost every new district because it had Ellsworth and Marshalltown junior colleges that were established decades earlier.

IVCCD, created along the Iowa River valley, never lost its lead and remains a premier institution. Its traditional college programs, as well as vocational and adult education programs have always been the best in Iowa. Now it is faced with critical needs necessary to maintain its leadership in facilities, security, technology and student housing.

Iowa Falls, Marshalltown, Grinnell and the entire district is lucky to have this vibrant organization preparing students, assisting businesses and touching almost everyone by its community participation and incredible economic impact.

I encourage you to vote “yes” to the IVCCD bond referendum on Nov. 5.