No vote will hurt kids, not teachers

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 1, 2006

I am a retired senior citizen and lifelong Marysville resident. I was raised on the then-rolling farm lands of Kellogg Marsh and attended the one-room schoolhouse. I graduated from Marysville High School in 1948.

My husband and I raised three children in Marysville, all graduates of Marysville schools who are all successfully contributing to our community. I worked for the school district as a teacher’s aide for nearly 30 years. I have lived through levy failure and have seen first-hand what damage it causes – it is disheartening. The “Stop the Abuse” signs are disheartening. These folks do not understand that the only thing a failed levy will do is abuse the children of our community. Would it hurt the teachers and support staff? Certainly. A failed levy will bring necessary reductions in staff, services, classroom materials and supplies, and athletic programs, to name a few. Staff who lose their jobs will relocate. We will lose good staff at a big price – the students will suffer. Not the teachers.

We are fortunate to live in a country where voting is a right and a privilege. It is our civic duty to support our schools by voting yes on the levy and the bond. That’s what our taxes are for – to support schools and other community services. We, like many other retired folks, live on a fixed income. Some senior citizens may be able to take advantage of the tax exemption if they qualify. We also face rising health-care costs, among other things. We do not use this as an excuse to not support our schools. It is our civic duty – it is the right thing to do.

Join us and vote yes on the bond and the levy. The community support of both measures is long overdue.

ELIZABETH T. KEEHN

Marysville