A cursory review of Sequim School District’s buildings reveals failing, outdated and unsafe configurations that are ill-equipped to meet current and future needs. Casual observers can see that we as a community have chosen to allow Sequim to fall far behind similar sized towns across the state.

It is widely accepted that as we compete with other towns for new doctors and employers to choose Sequim over other options, school system vitality is a prime criteria. We have been losing this competition.

If we do nothing, the existing shortage of primary care doctors in Sequim will not go away, it will worsen. Employers with educated workforces will continue to choose other areas for their investment and our local economy will erode further.

We have been underpaying taxes for schools for decades, when compared to similar towns of similar wealth. We are near dead last. Only Joyce taxpayers spend less on their schools than Sequim on the peninsula.

The decision we make now as taxpayers whether to invest in our town’s future with this school construction bond will be a decisive move positively or negatively.

We are truly at a crossroads.

Considering that the new proposed tax rates would merely put us in the middle of the pack when compared to other local towns, the tremendous boost the bond would provide is an incredible value.

Please join me in advocating for a “yes” vote on the school bond.

Craig Stevenson

Sequim