Vote yes for school bond in April

In 1954, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) opened, followed by the middle school in 1958. Today, our schools are nearing 70 years old. Yet, while our buildings have aged, education has evolved significantly for the better.

There is a scene in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” where the teacher drones on while the class appears disengaged. That’s the old way; today’s learning is dynamic, collaborative and interactive.

When I began middle school in 2018, the first remodel had just been completed. Teachers used large open spaces for collaboration and small group work or to give students other learning areas.

Then came high school. Suddenly, it felt like I’d stumbled onto the set of “Ferris Bueller.” Lecture-style classrooms, where the teachers tried their best to engage with students and use modern learning techniques but struggled with the 70-year-old design of the classrooms.

Our school buildings are outdated; this bond will work to modernize them.

My English class ran late just before midwinter break because the room was sweltering when we arrived. Similarly, there are times when we need to dash out to grab something warm because the classroom can be freezing. If we as students cannot maintain a normal temperature, our learning will suffer.

Part of high school is preparing students for the world — part of this is science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). As these fields evolve, so do our facilities. Passing this bond will modernize MIHS’s STEM facilities, ensuring students can access the resources they need to succeed in college and beyond.

At our middle school, consolidating the campus is essential for safety and comfort. Living in Washington, where it rains frequently, I remember getting soaked rushing between the old and new buildings. Bringing everything together would enhance the experience for all students.

This April, vote YES for Prop. 1. We will build schools that reflect who we are, not who we were 70 years ago. This bond measure is needed to maintain student learning and safety, addressing the big things that need change and the small things that should not affect students’ learning.

Connor Auld (Mercer Island High School Class of 2025)

With bond, it’s time to pay it forward

My wife and I moved to Mercer Island in 2015 due to the central location, relaxed pace of life, small neighborhood feel, and quality of schools. We have a 3.5 year old and a 7 month old we intend to enroll at Northwood.

Raising thoughtful, well-rounded, future community leaders, and preparing them for success isn’t just the capstone of our parental journey, it is the cornerstone of American civil society. This foundation rests on our great public school system teaching our kids to think critically and feel empathetically.

Whether supporting the bond or not, we all want our kids to reach their full potential. They need to have secure learning spaces, temperature controlled classrooms, flushing toilets, and working fire alarm systems so they can focus on their education, not their discomfort.

There will always be a difference of opinion in how we spend money for current students’ needs. And we should all advocate to the school board for programs, curriculum, and testing procedures that best serve these young scholars. But we as a community also need to separate short term operating decisions that are the domain of the Superintendent from the long term capital outlays that are squarely the responsibility of the residents of Mercer Island. Just because we don’t like what is being served for dinner is no reason to refuse to replace a leaking roof.

My immigrant parents came to this country to pursue the American dream of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. I greatly benefited from the free, world-class, public education that the local community supported. That education was made possible by the neighbors who invested in our community and in our schools. They ensured that decades in the future, a child like me could enjoy the shade of the trees they planted. It is our responsibility to continue that legacy for generations of MI learners to come.

As an electrical engineer and small business owner, I am well practiced in balancing limited resources. This bond addresses only the most critical needs at the Middle School and High School and is a fiscally responsible way to implement planned updates now rather than costly repairs later – I did the math.

It’s time to pay it forward. This bond will be used for capital improvements to ensure that students 50 years from now are afforded a quality education. It is our generation’s promise to our children and grandchildren of a brighter future. I humbly ask you to vote yes.

Stephen Yu, Mercer Island

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The Mercer Island Reporter welcomes you to send letters about the school bond or other local topics to editor@mi-reporter.com. We will print as many as we receive.