It seems that an editorial on athletic fields for Riverview District No.
407 is quickly becoming an already-ran. But once again, I throw my support
to an element of education that is critical to the success of our future
leaders: athletics.
Now the education extremists will say you can create leaders
without athletics. Others will say that there is a perfectly good field in Carnation
that the football team can use. Still others, will be concerned about their
taxes increasing in the wake of rising property values. But, let’s look at each
point after we learn some facts.
This is the fifth time this bond will have been put before voters.
It originally started out in November of 1994 at $3.3 million and included
an all-weather football/soccer field at Cedarcrest, a rubberized track,
field-event facilities, lighting, lighted tennis courts, an all-weather baseball
field, utility fields, a storage area and weight room. In September and
November of 1997, the ante was upped to $5.5 million and ticket booths,
observation booths, additional parking, two more tennis courts, an all-weather
softball field and covered grandstands were added. In November of 1998,
the number of utility fields were cut back, bleachers were not covered
or increased in size and only two tennis courts were lighted. A cost per
$1,000 of assessed value to homeowners had increased from 32 cents in 1994, to
38 cents in 1998.
Here we are in 2000 and the district is asking for $2.995 million.
Believe me, this is the bare minimum required for an athletic program; there is
no fringe here, the “nice-to-have’s” are gone. Bleacher capacity has been cut
to 750, and they will be open. Additional parking will be gone, there is
no, baseball field, softball field, or storage area and weight room, nor are
there tennis courts or utility fields. The cost is 13 cents per $1,000 assessed
value and valuations have risen by nearly 40 percent. The cost is minimal and
will create numerous opportunities for the kids of in the Lower Valley.
For the extremists who think athletic facilities aren’t needed to
create leaders, I’m sure there are likely cases where a leader was not involved in
a team sport, but athletics and team sports create many leaders that may
not necessarily be leaders academically. Isn’t the idea behind education
to provide as many opportunities for kids as possible and to allow them
to capitalize on the chances that they are given? Sorry, that doesn’t
happen academically alone. To those who think the field behind Tolt Middle
School is acceptable, well, the field on Meadowbrook Farm looks far better,
despite manure trucks and grazing elk. The field named for a great man,
Howard Miller, is tattered and in disrepair; unlike Howard, who will likely
outlive this publisher.
And to the folks who are concerned about taxes, don’t blame
school-age children for the lack of affordable housing in King County and
the continuing increases in taxes. That blame rests squarely on politicians.
Please, support Riverview School District’s efforts to provide its
students a safe and respectable athletic facility. It will go a long way to
promoting school spirit and a greater sense of community.
Jim McKiernan