Schools are crowded beyond capacity already

On Feb. 14, the community of Moses Lake has a choice. Our community’s children are our future city leaders, doctors, farmers, mechanics, et cetera. Why would we not want the best education possible for them?

Not so many years ago, Garden Heights Elementary was so overcrowded that third-grade students had to be bused down to Midway Elementary to attend school there. (Garden Heights isn’t the only school in our district that has had to do this.) Our school, as of today, has 530 students in a school that has every classroom plus three portables that each serve two classes, full of students who are eager to learn. If you want smaller class sizes, that requires additional classrooms.

We have a shared gym and cafeteria. Children who eat breakfast have to eat in the hallway the closer it gets to our school start time so that our custodian can move tables out of the way for PE classes. We have three different lunches with 16 tables each full of children. If you attend a school-wide assembly, you could see first-hand just how jam packed we are. Our children deserve better than being treated like a sardine.

Please remember that the bond that is being presented for your vote isn’t just about a high school. It also includes an elementary school that is so desperately needed. Please join us in voting “yes” for our youngest community members who don’t have a vote themselves.

Holly Thompson

Garden Heights PTO Board