EDITORIAL: Coupeville proves need for school

Coupeville School District clearly deserves a “yes” vote on its school bond proposal after conducting a thoroughly open and inclusive process.

Voters who still go to the polls will be asked next Tuesday, May 18, to approve borrowing $22,860,586 to build a new Coupeville High School and make a number of other needed improvements, among them upgrades to the middle school and elementary school. The cost in property taxes will be an increase of $1.35 per thousand of assessed value for the next 18 years.

Absentee ballot voters, of course, received their ballots in the mail nearly two weeks ago.

No matter what method you use to vote, the proposal makes good sense and has been well aired in the community. Numerous public meetings have been held to garner suggestions on the building program, while Superintendent Bill Myhr has spoke to any available gathering about the dire need for a new high school and other improvements.

Bond supporters have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the existing 65-year-old high school has served the community well, but its time is up. Remodeling and repairs have been done in the past, but at this point only a new $19 million school can give Coupeville’s high school students a safe, modern environment in which to learn. Imagine the world of 65 years ago — 1939, to be exact — and consider today’s world, and it’s easy to imagine why the old building is badly outdated. When the existing school was built, World War II was still two years away for the U.S., and computers were confined to the pages of fantasy magazines.

School officials have done an excellent job of explaining the proposal to the community, and as a result public opposition barely exists. Hopefully, this will translate into a resounding “yes” vote at the polls next Tuesday.

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