Spend $28 million on students instead

Regarding the Wednesday article, “Everett School District plans new offices”:

So, the district is going to spend $28 million on a new administrative office building. But not to worry — the money being used isn’t bond money earmarked for schools, instead it’s other money they have lying around. Who knew? Why hasn’t the district ever let us know before that they had this kind of money lying around?

The burning question on all of our minds should be: If they have that much money, that can be used at their discretion — shouldn’t the money be spent on the children first?

$28 million buys a lot.

How about instead:

Provide free after school tutoring?

Build a swimming pool?

Implement an effective autism program?

Fund intramural sports?

Provide daily P.E.?

Give teachers the assistance they ask for?

Surely there are much better uses for this money than pricey new digs for the folks running the district. What is our school board thinking?

If the Everett School District has this kind of money lying around, the last thing it should be spent on is the comfort of administrators. Public schools are for the benefit of children, not the employment of adults.

We should mobilize on this one, parents and teachers alike. Think of all the teachers who are told every day in this district, “There isn’t money in the budget for that,” and the teacher goes without or is discouraged from pursuing something her students need. Then think of all the parents who are told by the teachers and school principals, “We’d love to be able to be able to provide an X program for our students, but we just don’t have the resources.”

This is outrageous. We need to take a stand and start showing up to school board meetings now.

Jessica Olson

Everett