After reviewing the many articles and letters that have been published about the forthcoming vote on the school bond, I am encouraged by the amount and depth of interest in this issue. For the most part, I see this as a reflection of community concern for the school, and I hope the outcome will be a voter turnout commensurate with that concern.

In support of the bond were many very broad appeals for public support and some specific answers from the School Board, the Yes for Schools Committee, and the staff. On the other side of the issue, a recurring argument against the bond was that it would be cheaper and more practical to repair the existing middle school building and establish a maintenance program.

If I not been convinced of the need for replacement rather than repair after I participated in a public tour of the campus and took a long look at the structural deficiencies of the middle school building, the guest column two weeks ago by Justin Paulsen would have sold me. I urge anyone who is still undecided or who is thinking that repair is a viable solution, to look at the Yes for Schools website at www.yesfororcasschools.com, where Justin’s letter and many others are posted.

Let’s not perpetuate the mistake that we made in 1980. The grade school buildings in which some of us attended classes were built over a hundred years ago and are still in use. Can’t we do something here on Orcas that will last longer than 30 years?

Marilyn Anderson

Orcas Island