I’m adding my voice to the many citizens who support the Port Angeles School District capital levy.
The deteriorating state of our school buildings has been an issue for decades, and we need to stop kicking this can down the road.
Every time we do, the price tag goes up because of increasing state mandates and costs of construction.
This is a rare opportunity to finally get a handle on tackling the long-overdue work our school buildings need.
If we don’t, we will soon be out of options and then we will all suffer.
That’s because without a well-trained workforce, none of us can live here.
This isn’t just a matter of “doing it for the kids.”
We need to consider who will provide services like health care and public safety, and who will be available for employers to hire to keep our economy going.
Forty years ago a kid could quit in the 11th grade, pick up a saw, go into the woods and make a pretty good living.
Those days are long gone — nearly all jobs require higher skill levels.
Teaching 21st century skills with deteriorating 20th century equipment and facilities is not possible.
The school district has an innovative 30-year plan to make the levy as financially viable as possible, with the opportunity to vote on it again every five years.
To characterize this levy as unnecessarily extravagant is incredibly short-sighted.
Let’s not be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Please vote yes for the PASD capital levy.
Laurel Black
Port Angeles