Thirty-Something Soccer Mom

 I know what you’re thinking… “Another ballot measure to build a second high school… How many times are they going to ask?”  My question for you is: How many times do we have to?

When my husband and I moved here 14 years ago our oldest son was still in diapers.  We fell in love with the community and quickly decided to put down roots and raise our family here.  Not long after that we began hearing stories of the overcrowded high school: 3 kids per locker, 9^th grade students attending junior high with 7^th & 8^th graders because they couldn’t fit them in the building.

I naively thought this problem didn’t affect me.  After all, my son was only two.  Surely, another high school would be built by the time he was that age.

A few years later a bond for a new high school made its way onto the 2007 ballot.  When it didn’t pass I was baffled.  That’s when I learned that SKSD hadn’t successfully passed a bond since 1988, even though people had been talking about the need for another high school since the 70’s.  I was shocked. 

But even more shocking than that were the reasons I heard for why they can’t get it to pass. Rumors that say it’s all because of you.

Yes, you.

You retired, empty-nesters, who’ve already raised your families and don’t want to be bothered with an increase in your property taxes.  Could this be true? I thought.  

As far as I’m aware Kitsap county doesn’t conduct exit polls so maybe we’ll never know.  But something we do know is that your generation votes.  On every issue and in every election. 

So just in case there’s any truth to this rumor and you really are the reason we can’t get a bond or levy to pass I’d like you to consider the following 3 reasons for why you should vote YES in Tuesday’s election.  

Reason 1- Because good schools increase your home value.

Even if you’ve raised your kids and don’t think you’ll benefit directly from another high school, you will benefit.  Residential development is on the rise in Kitsap County.  Which means more people are moving to the area and they’re looking for properties to buy.  Just as you did, they too want good schools for their kids and in the age of the internet it only takes a few clicks of their mouse to locate where the good schools are and where they aren’t.  And believe me, parents today do their research.

So how does this affect you?  Your home value is directly related to the quality of schools in your community.  Don’t believe me?  Look at our surrounding neighborhoods.  To our north we have the award winning Central Kitsap school district. To the south we have equally competitive Peninsula and Gig Harbor school districts.  Now compare the property values for a 3 bedroom 2-bathroom home in those communities with those found in Port Orchard and Bremerton. You may not care about that now but at some point you’re going to sell.  Wouldn’t you like to get top dollar for your investment?

 People don’t want to move to areas with mediocre schools.  They want the best schools for their kids and they’re willing to pay for it. Wouldn’t you like them to be paying you instead of homeowners in Silverdale and Gig Harbor?

Reason 2- Because improving our schools is actually a good use of your tax dollars.

You’re right this bond will increase your taxes.  For four years property taxes for all homeowners will be increased to cover these costs.  But I want you to consider for a moment the hundreds or even thousands of tax dollars you pay annually for things that don’t make a difference.  This money doesn’t go to Washington D.C. or even to our state government to pay for things you’ll never see.  It will go to buy the steel beams, the windows, the lunch tables and desks that our children will sit in as they learn.  

Wouldn’t it feel great to know your money is being used for something that will stay right here in our community?  Every time you drive by the new high school you’ll know that it was your money that helped to build it.

Reason 3- Because you can leave a Legacy.

You are a great generation.  Your parents were our WWII and Korean war veterans.  You fought in Vietnam and supported the civil rights movement.  You’ve seen this country and our community through many seasons of hardship and trial. You’ve made many sacrifices for the things you believe in.  Things that you believe are worth the sacrifice because they’ll make the world a better place.  So consider for a moment the sacrifices you’ve made and the sacrifices you can make as they relate to our south kitsap community.  

The choice you make when you vote YES for another high school will leave a legacy for many children, maybe even your own grandchildren. 

Ask yourself:  How is South Kitsap better today than it was when you raised your family?  How can you help to improve it?  Resist the urge to think only of yourself and be a part of leaving something better behind for those that are yet to come.

We need your help to make this happen.

We can’t do this on our own.  We’ve tried…many times.  We need your help to get this bond passed.  Please think of the good you can do by voting yes on this bond. 

 Imagine what it would be like if high school students didn’t feel lost in the crowd.  Imagine if our teachers didn’t feel overwhelmed with class sizes.  Imagine what it would be like to be proud of our high school, not just because of a football record or the fact that we’re the largest AAAA high school in the state.  But proud because we make education a priority in our community.  Proud, because we’re doing our part to build a strong community by building strong schools.

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Even if this bond passes my son will graduate before the new high school is completed.  But I’m still voting yes.  I’m voting yes because it’s the right thing to do.  It’s the right thing to do for our kids and for our community and I’m pleading with you to vote YES too.