Adding a second high school has worked elsewhere

On Feb. 14 our community has the opportunity to decide the future of education in Moses Lake. Our vote will have an impact for decades to come.

One of the letters I recently read opposing the construction bond argues that there are no communities of our size that have added a second high school. This information is inaccurate. I worked for 19 years in the Richland School District as a teacher at both Richland High and Hanford High. Hanford joined Richland High in 1972 as the second high school at a time when the population of Richland was approximately 26,000. The current population of Moses Lake is 22,000.

The programs at both high schools were basically equal. Sure, there were small differences. For example, both schools offered Spanish, French, and German, but Richland High also offered Japanese, whereas Hanford offered Russian. Opportunities were provided for students to access programs in both schools. Our district has made the same commitment to offer equivalent programs both at Moses Lake High School and the new school, much as we do now with our three middle school programs.

Past construction bonds have been supported by a majority of voters, but unfortunately have not reached the required 60 percent for passage. Our kids are counting on those extra votes this time.

Please join me in voting “yes” before Feb. 14. The students will come no matter the outcome of this vote, but the question is this: Will we choose to continue to force our kids to attend overcrowded facilities, or will we choose to invest in the future? Having the second-largest high school in the state should not been seen as a badge of honor; it should be seen as a cause for some serious soul searching as we exercise our right to vote.

Michael J. Nordsten

Moses Lake