Bainbridge Island has one of the state’s best public school districts because education is a priority for the community. It’s not perfect; like any institution, it has its failures along with its successes. But, as a whole, it offers a quality learning environment that inspires our youth to expand their knowledge of the world going forward.

While caring people – students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community – are the essence of any education system, bricks and mortar also play an important ancillary role. There’s the safety issue, of course, but beyond that it’s vital for any public institution to provide a healthy, positive environment.

Our island community has done that consistently over the years, maintaining existing schools and building new ones when it was necessary. It’s time for islanders to step up again by approving a $42 million bond issue that would be used primarily to replace Wilkes Elementary School with a new building and also complete several maintenance projects in the district.

The bond is part of a facilities master plan that included funding for high school improvements in recent years and a projected construction bond in 2013 that would be used to replace Blakely and fund other smaller district projects.

This latest proposed appropriation comes at a particularly difficult time for the island’s property owners, many of whom have seen the assessed value of their properties increase while the real value decreased during the recent real estate downturn. However, the bond’s bite won’t go too deep because the district’s plan allows it to take on new bonds as old bonds expire, keeping the construction taxes stable.

Of course, the taxing will continue whenever the community decides it’s necessary to update or maintain the district’s facilities by approving another bond measure. The financial burden won’t go away, but the district has lessened the load by creating a phased planning process.

The school board’s responsible, measured approach is essential for success at a time when people are reluctant to dip into their pockets for anything other than basics. So, if you think a new school is integral, then approve the school’s request.