Peninsula schools give this community more than education

By Amy Lester, Gig Harbor

After growing up in Gig Harbor and moving away for eight years for school, I always knew I would come back. Life is good here. We have a wonderful community and schools. The schools need our support now more than ever. We have overcrowding issues at many of our elementary schools. We have safety and security issues that cannot be ignored. Our community should vote yes for the school bond in April.

I attended Peninsula schools and am now a parent of kids who attend Peninsula schools. I want our kids to feel supported and safe. I want them to appreciate their educational experience and have a deep appreciation for where they came from.
When I see people I went to school with who have returned to Gig Harbor, it makes me proud. There are firefighters, police officers, real estate agents, restaurant owners, business owners, physicians, nurses, social workers, coaches, attorneys, teachers, principals, stay-at-home parents and volunteers. We are successful and vital members of this community because we care about it — and that stems from our positive educational experiences where we felt supported.
Our schools give this community so much. They provide the fields and gyms for sports clubs, auditoriums for dance studios and private school performances, tracks for the public to jog and walk on. These are not only school facilities, they are community facilities and we, as a community, must support them. Join me in voting yes for the school bond to support our schools and community.

This transcript originally appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune on March 15, 2018.