Vote yes on Prop 3

To the editor:

I am speaking out in support of Proposition 3 in the upcoming election on Oct. 4. This proposition sounds expensive on the surface, but is not expensive when you take into account that it is actually a five-year plan. There are several benefits to voting yes on this proposition, but the one that concerns me the most is the fact that part of this money will be used to construct much needed schools. As a newly retired long-term educator I can definitely vouch for smaller class sizes. New schools will not only make for smaller class sizes in our fastest growing region (Knik-Goose Bay), it will enable teachers to give more time to their students.

Smaller class sizes are a definite “plus” for the students. With the state money available for new school construction at a 70/30 split it makes more economic sense to do this now than put it off and have some schools bursting at the seams “for only a little longer.” The longer we wait, the greater the chance that the state money would be severely cut back.

How many people remember a few years ago when Big Lake Elementary was so overcrowded that school board meetings were jammed with people demanding that something be done and Superintendent Norm Palenski stood up at a school board meeting and said, “Where were all of you when we tried to get the bonds passed three years ago?”

How many of you remember when Snowshoe was so overcrowded that we had six portables in addition to our main building? None of those portables had restroom facilities or water fountains. Not only that, one bus brought students from way out on Point Mackenzie, a bus ride of more than an hour, to our school. Eventually a portable “school” was put out on the Point and Goose Bay was constructed.

Goose Bay Elementary was much needed, but opened full and itself was overcrowded within a very short amount of time. My point in citing these examples is that new schools take time to build and the longer we put it off, the bigger the school needs to be and the almost certain fact that each year increases the cost of those new buildings.

Another reason I am voting “yes” is that over the years I have seen our schools constantly put off needed repairs and maintenance. Putting off necessary repairs and replacment of outdated and inefficient equipment will always cost more in the long run. It is similar to the guy who neglects to change the oil in his car for several thousand miles. “Something else” always comes up and next thing he knows, he has gone 10,000 miles or more since his last oil change. He deludes himself and says,” It still runs and I will do it next month, for sure.” Well, next month rolls around and he “forgets” to take care of it.

Finally, one day on the way to Anchorage, the engine belches blue smoke and a loud clanking and grinding noise is heard from the front of the car. Now, instead of spending less than $80 for an oil change at Mr. Lube, he has to have his car towed to a reputable mechanic and pay for some real serious repairs that could amount to well more than $1,000.

Now, the car scenario did not happen to me but I did work in a school that the district put off repairs to the roof for several years. As a result of that neglect, we had water dripping on the heads of the parents, in several locations, in the gym during our Christmas program one year. The repairs done at the right time could have spared our school from having to have a new roof over the gym and a new gym floor. Like the old Fram commercials: “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”

Voting “yes” for this proposition will have another benefit for our Valley: Jobs. All the repairs and new construction will result in more of our neighbors being put to work and those workers spend money locally, which results in the growth of our local economy.

There are only a few reasons that I would willingly vote to raise my property taxes and this is the one that I would put at the top of my list. I urge you to vote Yes on Proposition 3 on Oct. 4.

Don Campbell

Wasilla