Contest Question - What Could $100,000 Buy Southington Schools?

You’ve already decorated your house for holidays, lighting up the neighborhood with a fancy gingerbread style design. The hard work is done, so why not take a few pictures and help win $100,000 for the Southington school district and $500 for your electric bill?

Earlier this month, Patch.com has launched a nationwide contest to find the best dressed home in its Patch communities, and the winner’s school district will receive $100,000, no strings attached. All you have to do is load pictures of your home and fill out the contest form at http://deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/southington.

No, really. It’s that easy.

“This is a great idea and I can think of a lot of things that the money could bring the school district,” said Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski. “It would be only the second time ever that the school district has received a gift that large.”

The last time the schools received a donation of that size, it helped provide technology upgrades at the and Goralski said Tuesday that $100,000 would go a long way towards upgrading technology and advancing technological opportunities throughout the district.

“The technology things we could do with $100,000 would reach thousands of children,” he said. “Any gift to the school is something that would be well received and end up serving the schools well.”

School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. said the money would most likely be earmarked for the high school, where upgrades are badly needed.

The middel schools will receive technology refurbishing as part of the upcoming renovations and recent upgrades had been completed at many of the elementary schools as well, Erardi said.

Of course, with the economy tough and taxpayers already stretched, there are never ending possibilities in how the money could be used.

So for quick review, : Through Dec. 26, you can nominate your home by uploading a photo to the contest entry form on the site. During that same time period you and your neighbors will also be able to vote for your favorite festive home.

The winning entry will be forwarded to a national Patch judge that will select 24 finalists. Each finalist will receive $500 that they can apply to their December electric bill.

From Dec. 30 through Jan. 8, 2012, you will be able to vote for the "Best Decked House" in all of Patch. The winner will win a $100,000 check from Patch to their local school district.

So, get out your lights and ladders - and your competitive spirit! Whether your style is sophisticated or silly, we want you to dress up your house in the name of good cheer and our kids. At the very least, Southington will be decked out like it’s never been before. And if we win, what better gift could we give to Southington kids?

Time is running out, so enter now at http://deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/southington.

If you’ve got any questions, post them below and we’ll share the answers with everyone in town. .