The upcoming school bond election is about more than just improving athletic facilities. It also provides for several infrastructure upgrades to failing buildings. None of the bond projects are “Cadillac-level” projects, as some people have suggested. Instead, school board and district planners offer Vashon voters a Kia, maybe a Ford, much to the chagrin of some local athletic groups who wanted more.

We elect our school board members to make long-term decisions for the greatest benefit to the school system while weighing the cost to the community. They do not make these, or any other recommendations, capriciously. After watching them work long and hard to keep the cost of each project as low as possible, I trust them to make good use of our tax dollars.

Contrary to assertions made in last week’s letter (“Vote ‘no’ on Prop. 1, unfair to taxpayers”), a new gym is needed for reasons other than basketball. It is often overflowing, especially when it rains, which happens frequently here, as you may have noticed. The kids in outdoor sports come inside, and there is no way to accommodate them all.

The track was built in 1970, and it was barely adequate then and is completely inadequate now. Like Foss Miller, I love track and field. We’re both volunteer track coaches, who work with kids in the springtime who’ll never achieve at the stratospheric level Foss did. Few, if any, will earn an athletic scholarship, but, for some of them, it may be nearly as important as it was for Foss. I’ve seen so many kids show up for the first practice shy and tentative, only to grow in confidence as the season wore on. This is their time. Please help them, and all of our kids, to have the best possible experience at Vashon schools. Vote “yes” on Prop. 1.

— Todd Pearson