Two large placards in support of a school bond issue are propped against the west wall of Shields Barber Shop, 19 N. Jefferson Ave. Theyre good for starting a conversation about the April 2 vote, not that Greg Shields customers need the prompt.
The man in for a haircut Tuesday doesnt support the bond issue.
I think wed spend way more money than what we need for a good facility, the man, who didnt want to be identified, told Shields.Why cant we build that for a lot less money?
But what you see here, Shields said as he motioned to the placards, its not real fancy. And our old schools cost us a lot in maintenance every year.
But thats pretty piddly for what were spending, the man responded.
To which Shields responded, Its not like a house. You have to build it certain ways. Sometimes you have to put it in the hands of the professionals, and this is what they say it will take.
It was a fairly typical exchange at the barber shop, Shields said. Some of his customers support the bond issue. Some dont. Most of the time the conversations are civil, even impassioned.
I believe most of the folks, even the ones who are not for it, understand its something we need, Shields said. They just dont want their taxes to go up. I dont either, but youve got to do something.
Shields believes hes lost two customers because of his support for the school bond issue, though no one has come right out and told him so. Those customers were once-a-month regulars. Its now been three months since theyve walked through his door.
Thats why he hesitated to get involved with the USD 257 facilities steering committee when his friend and fellow businessman, Ray Maloney, asked him to be part of the group. Maloney and Shields had been on opposite sides of a 2014 bond issue; Shields quietly supported the effort and Maloney led a successful campaign against it. Now, Maloney is one of the leaders of a plan that would build a new elementary school, new science and technology center at the high school and replace aging heating and cooling systems at the middle school.
Shields worried taking a public stand on the issue would hurt his business so he didnt join the group until September, about nine months after the first meeting.
Its about the future of the kids. I feel like our kids are way behind. We need to give them the best that we can, he said. If you cant provide better for your kids, then what are we doing here?
He remembers advice from another business leader, Gary McIntosh, who once told him: Dont get involved in politics if you cant afford to lose business.
And he remembers advice from his mentor and barber instructor, John Jewell, who told him it was important to get involved in the community.
For Shields, getting involved meant being active with his childrens sports groups. He started coaching T-ball, and has helped with his childrens softball and baseball teams over the years. He helped start a youth wrestling club about 15 years ago. Hes a member of the Allen Community College booster club and recently joined ACCs endowment board.
His two daughters are adults now, and his son is a sophomore. Still, Shields believes its important to support schools.
