On Feb. 9, the Sequim community will face a huge decision that will significantly affect the future of our community and residents. I will vote “yes” for the much-needed Sequim School District facility bond for the following reasons:

• Our community needs to recruit and retain physicians and other health care professionals such as RNs, pharmacists and physician assistants in order to meet the health care needs of our residents. There is a significant shortage of physicians both nationally and locally. Rural areas in the U.S. have 20 percent of the population but only 10 percent of the physicians. In my role as CEO, I work on recruiting physicians every week.

When talking with physicians considering moving to Sequim, the No. 1 question that I hear is “What is the quality of the local schools?” Fortunately, our local schools have excellent teachers, but our facilities are in need of major upgrades. When potential physician candidates visit our high school or Helen Haller, they are dissatisfied with the facilities. I know physicians and other health care professionals that have chosen other communities due to the condition of our school facilities.

By passing this bond, Sequim schools will become an asset for recruiting and retaining physicians and other health care professionals.

Without investing in our local school facilities, and therefore our local students, Sequim is at a disadvantage in recruiting and retaining local health care professionals. We are in competition with Bellingham, Poulsbo, Olympia and other communities for the same physicians. If more physicians choose not to come to Sequim or move away, our community will have fewer local health care options.

The quality of our local health care system is directly connected to the quality of our schools. You can impact the availability of quality primary care and specialty physicians locally by voting for the school construction bond.

• Our 2,700 children living in the Sequim School District need the best education possible. To maximize the education we can offer our children, facilities and technology are critical. Up-to-date science labs and modern classrooms better position students and teachers to excel. Sequim children can’t vote but we can certainly give them the best opportunity to succeed by voting to support them.

• If the bond passes, the total property tax supporting our local schools will be $2.16 per $1,000 of assessed home value. In 2013 the rate was $2.30 and in 2014 the rate was $2.15. As the community paid off the 20-year bonds passed in 1996 used to pay for Sequim Middle School, we can pay for these much-needed school facility improvements with about the same tax rate we had in 2013 and 2014. If this bond passes, our rate of $2.16 will be less than half the state average rate for local school support of $4.36. In addition, because interest rates and construction costs likely will rise, it will become much more expensive if we further delay these needed facility upgrades. For residents over the age of 61 with household incomes of less than $40,000, you may be eligible for an exemption from the local portion of property tax.

In summary, I am going to vote for the school bonds as Sequim needs more physicians and it needs to be a place for local kids to get an excellent education. Sequim school facilities must be improved to meet the demand for classrooms, current technology and safety. We need families to want to move and live here to maintain/improve our local economy and to provide needed services to our residents. Please join me in moving our community in a positive direction by voting “yes.”

Eric Lewis is CEO of Olympic Medical Center, a Sequim resident and father of a Sequim High School student.