PORT ANGELES — Count Mark Ozias among the supporters of a proposed construction bond for the Sequim School District.
In his first regular meeting as Clallam County commissioner for District 1, which includes the Sequim area, Ozias on Tuesday said there are “a lot of reasons” to support the $54 million measure that will appear on the Feb. 9 special election ballot.
“There are safety reasons, there are basic necessity reasons,” Ozias said, “but the biggest reason is that I’m tired of telling our kids that we don’t care about them, and that’s what we do every single time our community fails to pass a bond measure like this.”
Three similar construction bonds failed to garner the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass.
Most recently, a $49.3 million proposition that appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot failed by just 54 votes, with 59.6 percent voting yes.
The latest proposal would pay for a new elementary school, renovations for Sequim High School and other needed improvements, district officials said.
Facility needs
School Board member Jim Stoffer asked commissioners to support the construction bond because the facility needs are “not going away.”
“They are now urgent issues, critical issues,” Stoffer said.
“Excellent schools benefit the entire community by attracting businesses, families and retirees alike.”
He added: “Schools are where our community future lies.”
Sheena Younger, secretary for Citizens for Sequim Schools and a parent, said she has two fourth graders who are “sardined into the portables” at Helen Haller Elementary School and a high school student taking advanced biology in a science lab “built before man walked on the moon.”
“I don’t feel like we’re doing our kids justice by continuing to not pass this bond,” Younger told the board.
Although commissioners took no formal action, Ozias said he would “continue to do what I can to be supportive of it.”
For information about the bond proposal, including dates for upcoming facility tours, visit the district’s website at www.sequimschools.wednet.edu.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
