Guest column: Schools have history of supporting vibrant Valley
Published 5:03 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2015
By Joel Aune
Snoqualmie Valley Schools Superintendent
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, a school bond proposition in the amount of $244 million will appear on the ballot here in the Snoqualmie Valley. This proposal presents an opportunity to invest in the community, in our schools, and in the young people who attend them. It addresses district-wide necessities, severe overcrowding in our elementary and middle schools and significant needs at Mount Si High School originally constructed over 50 years ago.
Our school district is one of the fastest growing in the state, and for the past 10 years, we have been pursuing a long-term solution to address overcrowding in our schools. During this time period, a variety of bond proposals focusing on the long term have been put before the voters, and each has earned strong support — between 57 percent and 59 percent — but not enough to achieve the 60 percent supermajority requirement for bond propositions. As a result of these near-misses, our facility needs have reached a critical juncture.
Nearly 40 years ago, our community was facing similar challenges. Growth in the North Bend area had pushed North Bend Elementary to the breaking point. Completion in the late 1970s of the North Bend bypass project, now referred to as I-90, resulted in rapid expansion of developments like Wilderness Rim, River Bend, Alpine Estates, and Cedar Village. The school district struggled with growth, and students were shuffled to schools in Snoqualmie to “make room” for all the new kids in the North Bend area. People expressed concern about growth, taxes, the economy, and changes occurring in the Valley. Time and again, bond propositions to build a new elementary school in North Bend failed to garner broad community support throughout the Valley. The bond that ultimately resulted in the construction of Opstad Elementary was placed on the ballot five times in the 80’s before a supermajority level of community support was finally attained for passage on the sixth attempt.
We now find ourselves in a similar position some 25 years later with a bond proposal needed to avert significant overcrowding in our elementary and middle schools. This bond provides relief for overcrowding at the elementary level and provides a middle school in each of our communities, North Bend, Snoqualmie, and Fall City. We find ourselves needing to make a significant investment in Mount Si High School to ensure it fully meets the needs of our students, our teachers, and our community—now and in the future.
I believe the Snoqualmie Valley School District today, like back then, serves to connect the many unique communities and neighborhoods throughout this beautiful Valley. Our schools tie this community together. They serve children from Snoqualmie Pass in the east, to Sammamish in the west. Our schools provide a place for our young people, parents, and community patrons to gather together, not only for education, but for the arts, athletics, activities, and community events. The Snoqualmie Valley schools are an enormous part of the fabric and spirit of this community.
Strong schools are essential to the health and vibrancy of any community. Ours is an amazing one, filled with strong families and caring neighbors. This bond is an opportunity to reinforce our culture and rich traditions while ensuring a bright future for our community.
The outcome of this election is now in the hands of the voters. Please take the time to become well-informed about the specific details of this school bond proposition, as your vote will directly influence the future of our students, the sustainability of our school facilities, and the health of our community.
More information is available on the Snoqualmie Valley School District website at www.svsd410.org.
