I am writing in support of the school bond issue.
A review of the job postings at Olympic Medical Center and Jamestown Family Health Clinic alone show that we are in urgent need of not only primary care providers and specialists, but also allied health providers such as physical and speech therapists, nurses and nursing assistants.
As a member of the medical community, I can attest to the fact that medical professionals consider the quality of the school system to be a very high priority when choosing a place to live and raise their families.
As a physician, I feel that the availability of these medical services locally is critical to the health of my patients. Many of our community members have neither the financial nor physical ability to make trips to Seattle for medical care.
I am also the mother of a student, currently a junior, at Sequim High School. I have seen firsthand the deplorable conditions of the campus. I applaud the educators, staff and administration for the good job they are doing in spite of the challenges we as a community have given them.
As a concerned and fairly reluctant taxpayer, I was unwilling to lend my support to this issue until I attended the very informative open meetings that were held on many occasions to educate the public regarding the condition of our schools. I am now aware that renovation of the existing facility would be more costly than starting fresh.
I learned much about energy efficiency, electrical and HVAC systems, roofs and the necessity for providing for a secure facility under one roof. The information was presented in a clear and concise manner with abundant opportunities for discussion.
The research for hospital and medical settings parallels that of school settings. Clean, quiet, safe environments help achieve positive outcomes.
After thinking carefully about all of the possible solutions to our crisis situation, I am convinced that passage of the bond is necessary for the future of Sequim.
While I will not have a student in the school system at the time these plans come to fruition, I feel it is my duty to my patients, their families and the greater community to vote yes on the school bond issue.
Rena Zimmerman
Sequim
