One of the first things I did after joining the Marysville School District Facilities Committee was research. I read more than a dozen studies regarding the effect facilities had on educational outcomes. Consistently, factors such as windowless classrooms (Cascade Elementary and Marysville-Pilchuck High School), inadequate wiring impacting educational needs for computers (Cascade, Liberty and MPHS), poor ventilation and heating systems (older portables, Liberty and Cascade), high portable use (1/3 of Marysville students are in portables) and overcrowding (MPHS) all had an negative effect on student achievement, even when accounting for socioeconomic factors.
Many of us who have worked in windowless cubicles with poor ventilation can understand how those conditions effect productivity. Of course the physical environment is just one factor in student learning, but it is one item we can immediately do something about. The surrounding school districts are investing in facilities. Marysville has the lowest current facility investment out of 16 surrounding districts. Those districts are not only improving their students’ learning environment, which translates into improved achievement, those communities are saying something to their students – we value you. A commitment to remedy facility needs of our students is just one step in the great success we desire for our children.
Vote yes on Sept. 20.
Corinne Diteman
Marysville
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