​Help our kids fly: Vote yes on school bond

By Mark Burcar, Gig Harbor

As a Peninsula School District graduate, I received an excellent education that allowed me to pursue my dream of flying and become a pilot for a major airline. As careers like aviation, engineering and other skilled professions become more competitive, our kids must have a strong foundation of skills that begin in elementary school.

I watch other districts build modern facilities to support programs, such as Raisbeck Aviation High School in the Highline School District. Meanwhile, my hometown has struggled for decades to pass a bond to simply meet the basic housing needs of our massively overcrowded system. Gig Harbor is the “The Maritime City,” yet Port Townsend is leveraging its resources into a district-wide “Maritime Schools Initiative,” supported by modern school facilities, such as the recently built Salish Coast Elementary School.

I urge everyone to support the Capital Facilities Bond and vote yes by Feb. 12, to begin the process of rebuilding our aging schools. Our district should be leading innovation in learning, not figuring out where to squeeze in more portables. Whether it is dreams of flying airplanes or designing them, we need to invest in our schools to ensure all kids can reach their full potential.

This transcript taken from the original letter published in the Peninsula Gateway on February 7th, 2019