It is easy to get wrapped up in the never-ending litany of nice things we’d like to do, that then get transformed somehow into how our kids get better education. The problem is – that what was presented as the only choice is a false only choice. It is also a false conclusion that paying for Astroturf and new football fields to keep up with Mercer Island will somehow make our kids score better on tests.

If we are falling behind China or India, it is not because our boilers need occasional repair. Nor is it because we lacked fancy electronic whiteboards, because 99.99% or the rest of the world’s excelling students don’t have any such nonsense. The only thing that truly determines student success is parent involvement, and I’m not talking about being the assistant soccer coach. It’s all about family and emphasis and expectations, not new carpet.

I recommended to this district a year ago to consider building up, not out, at Mount Si. The cost could be quite low and there are companies that are specialists in preserving existing buildings, adding more stories above seamlessly. Issaquah High built up—not out. No new auditoriums, fancy ball fields parking lots and costly administration staff and their pensions. Until we duplicate Issaquah’s wisdom, we might offload our excess high school students to Issaquah High that now has lots of excess capacity.

Now that’s frugality.

Steve Marquis

Fall City