Great Editorial But Marysville Bond Not Passing

Published: Friday, May 13, 2005

Not a preference, now it's a need

Please vote yes in the Marysville School District School bond election on Tuesday. I am a parent of three children who went through the Marysville schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. The last is graduating this June. Even though the passage of this bond issue will not directly impact my children, I am willing to vote for it and pay higher property taxes. The cost of the measure should not be the primary consideration for approval or denial. I also would like to point out that limited-income senior and disabled citizens may be exempt from paying.

For years I have heard neighbors, friends and acquaintances complain about the overcrowding at the schools. We all know new schools are no longer a preference in Marysville, but a critical need. Approximately 3,510 students are being educated in portables. Classrooms are being made out of storage rooms and locker bays. Realtors report that they are hearing from potential homebuyers that Marysville is not considered a school-supportive community. Families are hesitant to move here. If this continues, all of our property values will go down.

An article in The Herald focused on a 32-year teacher at Cascade Elementary who was also a second-grader at Cascade when it opened. It was a powerful picture of the age of the school. How many Marysville citizens live in 50-year-old homes? Cascade, Liberty and other Marysville schools lack the basic needs of adequate plumbing, heating and electrical systems.

As parents, we correctly expect our schools to educate our children to become competitive, knowledgeable members of society. Please send a message of support toward this goal by voting to approve the Marysville School District construction and renovation bond measure on Tuesday.

Tracy Harper

Marysville