Please vote ‘Yes’ for our school children | LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Published 3:29 pm Thursday, January 28, 2016
To the editor:
Since retiring, I have had the privilege of being a member of the Bainbridge Island School District’s (District) Career and Technical Education Committee. I am also the chairman of the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island’s (Rotary Club) Vocational Trades Committee, and the Bainbridge Youth Services’ Summer Internship Program Committee.
During 2105, these organizations developed a Career Readiness Initiative designed to support the district’s goal of preparing all high school graduates for success in the global workplace. The focus of the initiative is to cement a partnership relationship between the district and employers on Bainbridge Island in the provision of work-based learning opportunities.
In my work, I am a frequent visitor to the 100 Building which houses, among other things, career and technical education courses. I know that the building is standing in the way of the provision of the type of educational experiences I believe we all want and expect for our children.
For example, two years ago the Rotary Club donated $130,000 to the district to buy the equipment necessary to set up a state-of-the-art Composite Engineering Program.
Launched last school year, the program generated a lot of interest among high school students. Unfortunately, the only space available for the equipment is very crowded and can only accommodate 11 students at a time. At a time when class size is a major consideration in course offerings, this limitation was a factor in the district’s decision not to offer the course during the first semester of this year.
I have taken time to read the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Study and Survey of the Bainbridge Island School District. If you are trying to make up your mind on whether or not to support the school bond issue on the Feb. 9 ballot, I recommend you read the report.
It doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the 100 Building.
Built in 1970, it is the oldest remaining building on the school’s campus. Over the past 45 years, the district has done its best to maintain the building, but it is clearly nearing the end of its serviceable life. Words like “asbestos needs abating,” “seismic design does not meet current code,” “does not meet ADA requirements,” “is at the end of its service life,” “does not meet Washington State Energy Code,” “does not meet current district standards,” ”unsafe” and “unsecure” punctuate the report.
Is this the learning environment we want for our children? I think not, and believe it is time to move beyond another round of band-aid remedies and solve the building’s multiple, ever increasing list of problems by replacing it with a new structure.
Recently, my good friend Faith Chapel announced her plan to retire in June. The best way we can show our appreciation for the incredible job she has done as the School District’s superintendent is to vote “yes” on Feb. 9!
TOM MCCLOSKEY
Bainbridge Island
