Residents living within the Albert Lea school district have a big decision to make on Tuesday.

It is then voters will decide whether to approve a $24.615 million referendum that would go toward upgrades at Hammer Complex, Albert Lea High School and Halverson Elementary School.

Of the total requested, the breakdown is as follows:

• Stadium upgrades: $3.83 million

• Field house: $3.67 million

• Field improvements: $3.02 million

• Site improvements: $2.46 million

• Gym HVAC/locker room upgrades: $1.73 million

• Halverson gym addition/secure entrance: $2.92 million

• Fees, permits and testing: $3.77 million

• Contingency: $934,000

• Capitalized interest: $1.92 million

• Bond issuance: $365,000

Though the amount requested is expensive, it should be thought of as an investment in our future.

Some may ask why they should support the referendum when they have no children in the district.

The answer is the community invested in our school facilities when we were in school, and now it is our opportunity to support the next generation — and in reality the entire community. The athletic facilities will be used by many more than just high school athletes.

And the truth is, the facilities need the updates.

Aside from the physical need for improvements, the upgrades are about much more.

All students, their families and other spectators should feel safe and welcome at any school facility. Under the proposal, the facilities will be brought under compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will be able to accommodate students or adults in wheelchairs, the elderly and even parents with young children who come out to support Albert Lea athletes.

In addition to ADA compliance, the facilities will also be brought under Title IX compliance, eliminating the gap in equality of facilities for boys’ and girls’ athletes — as it should be.

We believe the improvements proposed at Halverson Elementary School offer the least room for debate. Moving the office to the front of the school will improve the safety and security of the building, which is a necessity in this day and age. Building a full-size gym is long overdue and will not only contribute to physical education activities for the elementary students but will give the community more gym space to utilize for after-school and other community activities.

We commend school administration for bringing this forth at this time — at a time we believe is critical to making this happen. Because taxpayers will be finished paying for the high school, there will be no increase for the upgrades. Instead, taxpayers will continue to pay essentially the same rate they had been paying.

For these reasons and many others, we believe it is in the community’s best interest to vote in favor of the referendum.

No matter what you choose, please remember to exercise your constitutional right to vote. This is your chance to be heard.