Families are leaving Snoqualmie Valley district

At our neighborhood Fourth of July celebration, I learned that two families will leave Snoqualmie because of the situation at Mount Si High School.

At our neighborhood Fourth of July celebration, I learned that two families will leave Snoqualmie because of the situation at Mount Si High School.

One dad noted the few National Merit Scholars there in recent years, while his wife remarked on the absence of academic enrichment activities. Their very gifted young teen will almost certainly be a National Merit Scholar one day, but not at Mount Si. They will be gone before school starts.

Another parent commented on the failure of three bond proposals to build a new high school and the extreme crowding her current grade school children will face by the time they become students there. Throw in the recent violence and she senses it is time to go.

Neither family wants to leave, but feels compelled to do what they view as best for their children.

Our failure to support our schools while insisting on excellence and safety has consequences in the loss of productive, contributing residents and ultimately in the decline of home values. The situation at Mount Si High School has been all over the Seattle newspaper. Young families choose homes based on excellent schools. Regrettably, many parents will think twice before moving their children into this school district.

There may be those among us who will see the departure of these “outsiders” as a positive, but the loss of good people and the potential decline of our tax base should make us all wonder if this is how we want our schools and community to be known.

Anne Avery

Snoqualmie