Build new school now or pay more later

I am writing to inform you, the taxpayer and the one responsible to pay for the addition of a new high school in Moses Lake. We know the public voted with a super majority of 60 percent to finance the construction of a second high school. The original high school was built in 1959 for about $2 million with the built-in seat for growth of about 500 seats. The vision for the future was correct and lasted until a remodel for about $10 million in 1996 to the current configuration. We lacked the vision we had in 1959 by cutting the gym down with 40 feet less on the east end, a decrease in the auditorium to 500 seats, and a smaller commons which the students use daily for lunch. We did not add classrooms and currently must use portable classrooms in an unsecured area for classes. We have exceeded the current capacity of the facility to provide a safe and effective learning environment and place our staff in a position to work and provide an effective service in a difficult situation. We failed as voters to build a high school in 2007 that would have cost $75 million and in 2018 that same school is costing $110 million and by waiting our money has lost over $35 million in buying power.