Letter: Jim Stanton

As most of you know the MI School Board has placed at $196M school bond in the April ballot. Tonight’s meeting will offer an opportunity to learn more about proposal and how the funds would be used.

We support the school bond.

Our schools have become increasingly overcrowded and functionally outdated, hampering delivery of instruction, particularly when compared with neighboring districts. The proposed bond provides funding to correct major deficiencies and will bring Mercer Island schools back into parity with leading districts. There are many factors at play, but remodeling the elementary schools and middle school is not prudent financially, thus the plan to replace them. The high school is a different situation and can take limited but effective functional remodeling well, which is part of the plan. The staging of all building will create a fairly consistent increase to our property taxes, tacking on about $700 per year for a $1M home. Our interest rate environment is a unique opportunity to issue bonds at an exceedingly attractive rate.

My kids benefited during their time in our schools due to the previous generation’s vision, generosity and financial support for our schools. Now it’s time again for Islanders to step up for the current and future generations of MI children by procuring quality facilities that provide both adequate space as well as incorporate the proven, advanced functional design elements that have evolved since our schools were last remodeled.

The MI school system’s excellent reputation is an important contributor to our property values, and $700 is a small price to pay to sustain those values.

If you cannot attend tonight, you may learn more by going to www.mischoolsyes.org which outlines the plan.

Thanks for your consideration!

Jim Stanton