LETTER: A 'yes' vote means you take pride in our community

I know there are members of the electorate who will oppose and express their displeasure about the upcoming bond election, regardless of the merits of the district’s request. Those people will tell you to vote no for a variety of reasons, most of which are unfounded.  I get it.

I am not appealing to the voter who has already decided to vote no — I won’t change your mind. My appeal is to those who don’t know whether to vote yes or no, and to those who may not vote.

So what does it mean to vote no or to not vote at all? Obviously, it means no educational tax increases. But it also means no beneficial economic impact for the building and trades industry. It means continued and persistent overcrowding in our elementary schools. It means no improvements to infrastructure including life and safety features, handicapped accessibility and usable education spaces.

It means you absolve yourself of any reason to support the public education of those who will be the contributors and influencers of our community and society and will ultimately help to support you.

On the other hand, a “yes” vote means that the youth of this community will be provided the academic options and updated facilities to meet the demands of delivering a 21st century education.  

A yes vote means that you believe our students should be supported in an academically rich, safe, and caring environment. It means that you take pride in our community, and you see that community and schools go hand-in-hand. It means that you support the schools of this district that consistently outperform other schools — across the state, the nation and internationally.  

It means you care about our children, our community and our future. It means you get it. —Micah Hill, Kalispell