Putting school on hill invites trouble

Marysville needs new schools, of this there can be no doubt, but the proposed bond issue raises serious questions that require thoughtful answers before we commit to spending $171 million.

First, the location for the new high school was short sighted. Not only are there gas lines on the property, but Getchel Hill is incredibly dangerous, especially in winter. We will be asking our children, all new drivers, to navigate Getchel Hill to get to and from school. Bad enough for an experienced driver under ideal conditions, but with our unpredictable winters and new, inexperienced drivers, it is a disaster waiting to happen.

I would prefer my student share a locker to the prospect of getting a call from the sheriff about an accident involving her on Getchel Hill. I would prefer having my student attend classes in a portable to reading about a gas line explosion at the new high school, wondering if my child is OK.

There is a far greater likelihood that school will be canceled due to ice and snow on Getchel than if the school were built in another location.

We need a district superintendent and school board more concerned with our children than their own political careers. The ones we now have are simply mediocre at best.

Saying “no” to the new bond measure isn’t just about the money. It’s about our children. If we take the easy path now, how will we feel when disaster happens to us or to our child’s classmate?

Ben Rosander

Marysville