A Better School Bond Solution?

I will always support and our community’s excellent school system.  However, there is an alternative plan that provides a better solution and more efficient use of public dollars.  Instead of their proposed 3 elementary school plan, I urge our School Board Officials to build a new 4^th elementary school as it affords the following advantages.

• Relieves the overcrowding situation for all 3 existing elementary schools within 2 years.
• Creates elementary school sizes that have a competitive advantage relative to our neighboring east-side school districts.
• Provides a neighborhood school option for the north end of the island.
• Allows for the removal of the portables at the existing elementary schools, thereby freeing up recreational outdoor space.
• Allows the community to fully reap the rewards of the 1994 remodel of the three elementary schools by postponing their replacement for 10-12 years.
• Reduces the elementary school rebuild cost by 25% (e.g. $76M vs. $104M) as we will be building 500 student schools instead of 650 student schools.
• Allows for moving up the replacement of the overcrowded one year earlier (i.e. 2015 versus 2016). 
• Increases the school district’s ability to accommodate demographic changes in the future.

Please see the attached PDF image for the entire letter, including supporting statements.

Ralph Jorgenson