Portables aren't a solution to school crowding

Students in Moses Lake need a positive learning environment. Conditions at the high school are overcrowded. The current building was designed for 1,600 students is serving about 2,200. To accommodate all these young people, the staggered schedule was introduced. This is not an ideal situation and comes with its own set of problems, including transportation costs and scheduling nightmares. The number of students currently enrolled in our elementary schools will increase high school enrollment by 400 in just five years.

Portables have been installed to help with overcrowding. These are not cheap to purchase, install and maintain. Portables do not withstand the wear and tear of daily use like a permanent building. Also, ask any student or teacher housed in a portable. It isn’t the same as a classroom.

Now is the time to pass this bond. The majority of voters have approved it, but we didn’t reach the 60 percent supermajority necessary. Putting it off will only make it more expensive. Costs of land, materials and labor are not going down.

You have an opportunity to invest in the future of Moses Lake. Continued economic growth depends on sound educational opportunities. Ballots to approve the Moses Lake School District

bond have been mailed to your home. Please exercise your right to vote by marking your ballot and returning it promptly. I urge you to vote yes.

Margaret Angell

Moses Lake