In the nine years since my wife and four kids (three at Mount Si High School and one at Chief Kanim Middle School) moved to the Valley, I have seen five construction bonds fail. They were crushing defeats, because none of my kids would ever directly benefit from improvements at the middle and high school levels.
But the current bond, Proposition 1, gives me great hope. It is not a perfect bond (no such bond exists), but it is unequivocally the most comprehensive school bond ever put before voters in the Valley. There has never been a more inclusive, more impactful or more affordable school bond than Prop. 1.
Prop. 1 benefits every grade level, K-12.
Prop. 1 increases permanent student capacity districtwide by 1,950 students (700 at the high school campus, 550 at the middle school level and 700 at the elementary school level).
Prop. 1 retains the learning benefits of a freshman learning center while moving the freshmen closer to the main campus to more easily and safely benefit from the main campus experience.
Prop. 1 gives the district a “free” middle school by moving the freshman learning center to the main high school campus and reopening Snoqualmie Middle School. This also saves the district $1 million annually in operation costs.
Prop. 1 allows for the district to receive an estimated $20 million in matching funds that would not be available if the high school were simply upgraded.
Prop. 1 builds a badly needed elementary school with a capacity for 700 students.
Prop. 1 will cost a taxpayer with a home valued at $400,000 just $1 per day. Just $1 per day will buy our children 1,950 more desks and chairs in which they can learn and grow.
I love this Valley. I own two businesses here. I choose to have my kids educated here. I coach two sports at the high school level. I want to show my own kids, the kids I coach and every child, born and unborn, that we, as their parents and adult leaders, are as serious about their education as we expect them to be.
Vote Yes on Proposition 1.
Sean Sundwall
Snoqualmie
