To the Editor: Rachel Lake endorses school measures

Please add my name to the “YES” consideration for endorsing the Shoreline 2010 Replacement Levy for Educational Programs, M & O, the Bond for Modernization and/or Replacement of Shorecrest and Shorewood High Schools, and the Capital Levy for Technology Support.  It is my understanding that this “YES” vote for taxpayers will not result in a higher tax bill from the District.  It is time for the District to modernize these high schools.  I taught at Shorewood and I should know.

It is critical and necessary that taxpayers continue to support our school levies.  If they fail the first time and have to be “rerun again.” taxpayers pay unnecessarily.  If they fail a second time, the students suffer; such was the case in 1971.  As a teacher in the elementary at the time, I endured double shifting with class sizes of 40!  We don’t need to endure that again. 

Why would any legislator or government official not support these measures?  As leaders of an outstanding school district such as ours, these officials must show support for education, especially in times that we are now experiencing.  Ample opportunity has been given for input to levy and bond committees for their consideration in establishing these proposals.

If a “NO” vote is for retribution due to the Shoreline Historical Museum situation, the emphasis is misdirected.  It is unfortunate that members of the Museum feel that not supporting these school measures would accomplish their goal of keeping the Museum unaltered.  As a member of that group and researching the situation, I cannot support their position of not supporting the levy and bond measures in retaliation    Again, ultimately the students will suffer as well as our district and its communities.

I urge you to pass a “YES” vote on this issue.

Rachel M. Lake
Lake Forest Park