I marvel at the enduring dose of inspiration I received from the simplest of things, a children’s book. The story in this book has parallels to overcrowding in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) and inspiration to help fix it.
Our schools are severely overcrowded. We’ve grown by more than 3,000 kids in five years, and we expect to grow by 2,000 more kids in the next five years. We can build school capacity to respond to this growth if we pass a local bond measure. On the April 2016 ballot is an LWSD bond measure that will address the most critical school needs in our three communities. I encourage you to approve this bond measure. Now for a dose of inspiration from Dr. Seuss…
“The Waiting Place…
Waiting for a train to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow
Everyone is just waiting.”
Bonds to build school capacity failed in 2010 and 2014. LWSD took a step back, studied why they failed, convened a task force of community members and business leaders who went deep on the situation and developed solutions, surveyed our community, held town hall and informational meetings, and engaged industry expertise through a construction advisory group to identify construction cost saving measures. The district did not just wait. They took initiative, gathered the community for input, and delivered a short term plan (2016 April bond) and long-term plan (2018, 2022, 2026 bonds) to meet our demands. It is now our turn to act, to vote “yes” and approve the LWSD bond measure. We cannot wait, our kids need this vote.
“So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.”
Balancing different perspectives is why great care went into the April bond measure, a plan that will address the most critical needs in our schools, add space for 3,000 kids, and keep the tax rate the same.
“Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!”
I stand in awe when I think of how many community members, from all three cities, all walks of life, and all political viewpoints, are collaborating together to solve this problem. We care about our community, and we care about our kids.
So if you need inspiration, have a read of the fantastic book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss that supplied the above quotes, and more importantly please join me to vote “yes” and approve Proposition No. 1, the LWSD bond measure on the ballot this April. Please return your ballot by April 26 via US mail or free of charge to drop vans or drop boxes in the following locations: http://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-dropoff-locations.aspx. Our kids need your “yes” vote and “Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!” For more information, please visit http://vote4lwsdkids.org/.
Martha DeAmicis
Redmond
