Lets take nothing for granted. There are likely many people who have yet to mark their ballot and send it in. There are just a few days left — just six days to get that done. But time enough to encourage neighbors, fellow shoppers at the grocery or folks standing in line at the post office, to vote — and to vote yes for schools.

The vote on the Mercer Island School District’s $98.8 million to build a new elementary school and expand both Mercer Island High School and Islander Middle School, is absolutely necessary to ensure that Island children have adequate facilities and a first-rate education. Ditto for the levy that pays for critical operations and maintenance projects and ensures that the schools are fully staffed.

And it is not about the buildings or the fields or even the computers — it is about our children whose way to an education and a bright future is in our hands.

The world is rapidly changing and more children are on their way.  We don’t want our schools to be overwhelmed and crowded and stressful — where teachers and staff have to worry about how to manage traffic flow rather than spending time working with students.

In last week’s issue, we published a letter from 80 Mercer Island High school graduates who support the passage of the Mercer Island School District bond and levy.  These alumni and their families have chosen to make their home here —  a place they know is special — a community that supports excellence in public education.

There could have been many more of these boomerang grads signing this letter, but there was not enough time.  These Islanders, their parents and grandparents know that the values of good schools and community are one and the same.

For those of us lucky enough to have landed here, voting yes is a way to give back.  It is also a way to ensure that Island schools are place where opportunity is available to all to meet their potential. From the highly capable student to the special needs child, all are valued here.

Let’s keep it that way.