Street vacation a good idea

Imagine an all-inclusive school campus that has an elementary school, middle school, high school and community school, connected by a tree-lined courtyard — and no traffic traversing the grounds.

That’s the vision Sequim School District Superintendent Bill Bentley has for Sequim’s schools. And, he says, it’s entirely possible.

There is, of course, a catch. A portion of Fir Street must be closed to make the dream a
reality. It means the city must vacate Fir between Third Avenue and the school district office at Sequim Avenue.
Closing that portion of Fir Street has been a desire of the Sequim School District for many years. Bentley, who has been on the job two years, isn’t the first administrator to go to the city asking for the street vacation.

The issue was again a topic of discussion at last week’s city council study session.

To get a true understanding of the reasoning behind closing the three or so blocks, it’s essential to take a drive or walk down Fir Street. It is, by admission of both the city and school district, in disrepair. It is an unsafe street from both the perspective of motorists and pedestrians but particularly to pedestrians who happen to be students. The street is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, either, as the asphalt has deteriorated and there are no sidewalks.

From the city’s point of view, vacating a street is a serious decision that could have serious consequences. For one, there are very few east/west options for Sequim drivers. When Washington Street is clogged — and when isn’t it? — driving on side streets isn’t much easier. So, closing one of the east/west thoroughfares seems counterproductive.

There is also underground infrastructure to consider if the street is vacated.

Are those compelling enough reasons to spend money on upgrading a street not used nearly as much as adjacent Spruce Street, which is wider and safer?

From the school district’s point of view, the answer is no. The safety of the students is the primary concern. It doesn’t make sense to bisect a campus with a street that serves no one. Yes, there are homes on Fir Street but not in the three blocks singled out for closure. It won’t be a huge inconvenience for those homeowners to access their driveways from Alder Street or Fifth Avenue.

Then there is the issue of growth. As Sequim grows, so does the school district. The Community School needs renovation, as does Helen Haller Elementary School. Ten years down the road, says Bentley, there will be a need for more classrooms.
What better place to put those classrooms than on a complete, inclusive campus? After all, we’re halfway there.

Vacating a city street is not unusual; cities do it all the time for a variety of reasons, but it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly, either. That’s probably the reason Fir Street has not been closed in previous discussions.

That’s not to say it should take another 10 years to come to a decision regarding Fir Street. It’s not rocket science. It’s a matter of safety for students.

More and more cities are choosing to build campuses that include elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the administration offices. The proposed closure of a portion of Fir Street is a good start to having that open, tree-lined campus that is not only attractive but provides for a positive and safe learning atmosphere.

And speaking of school ?
Sequim students will head off to the classroom Sept. 3, some without the necessities, such as paper, pencils and backpacks.

There are at least three organizations ready to help but they need our assistance to make sure students are prepared for school. With a sagging economy, many households are struggling with back-to-school expenses.

So, here’s what to do. Go to any of the retail or office supply stores in Sequim, grab a list posted by the school district and start filling a backpack.

Then take your treasures to Serenity Thrift Shop, 215 N. Sequim Ave., or First Federal, 333 N. Sequim Ave. They will distribute the supplies to local schools.

Sleep Country, located at 1041 W. Washington St., is collecting school supplies for local foster care children. They, too, will distribute donated items to the appropriate agency for disbursement.

Make a difference in a child’s education. Buy some stuff today.

Editors make mistakes, too
If there’s one thing editors are fanatic for, it’s that reporters spell a source’s name correctly.

In fact, I’ve been known to have a fine jar for every misspelling of a name, the proceeds of which go to the donut fund. Sometimes, that means lots of donuts.

Now I find myself buying the donuts after breaking the rule. In the Aug. 20 editorial, “Everyone has to eat,” this editor spelled a name incorrectly. Stephen Rosales, president of the Sequim Food Bank board is not Stephen Morales.

My apologies to Mr. Rosales and to the newsroom. The fine jar is full. Donuts, anyone?

Mary Powell can be reached at editor@sequimgazette.com or at 683-3311.