It’s not often I agree with the park board on their decisions. But this time, the park board is right. The school district is wrong. Period.

The school district is the landlord, hired the contractors for the new building (architect too, I suppose) and oversaw the construction. And they made mistakes. Big ones. Is the contractor liable for not having continued the drainage for the pool? Does the school district’s fiduciary responsibility include getting payment from the contractor? Ultimately, the buck stops with the school district.

Have school board members never been to the pool in full swing — with Vashon young adult lifeguards teaching swimming to little ones? Seen older Vashonites swimming to relieve arthritic pain? This is community. This is the Vashon way.

Those of us who support both the park district and schools want a long-term solution. The school district needs to step up to the plate.

— Jean Carpenter