Do right by Highline schools

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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134416252_smithop07.

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Thursday, March 07, 2002, 12:00 a.m.

Do right by Highline schools

By Adam

Special to The Times

Right now, noise from airplanes overhead can be so deafening that teachers

in the Highline School District must halt their class to wait for the plane

to pass. More than 80 percent of the schools in the district are 50 years or

older. There are hazardous materials in some buildings - including toxic

mold and asbestos. The plumbing, sewer and ventilation systems are outdated

and faulty.

These problems didn't happen overnight. In fact, these substandard

conditions have impacted kids in the Highline School District for more than

two decades. What is new, however, is that on Tuesday, we have a unique

opportunity to fix this problem.

An important capital-improvement bond is before the voters in Highline. This

issue totals $189.5 million, which would allow for the replacement of eight

schools and creation of a noise-mitigation fund for 15 schools.

The bond includes $50 million toward an agreement that obligates three

parties - the Port of Seattle, the Federal Aviation Administration and the

state of Washington - to put forth $50 million contributions each. In short,

if we pass the bond, the citizens of the Highline School District can

leverage an additional $150 million to fund long-overdue improvement in the

district. By any measure, that's a great return on our investment.

By passing this bond we are choosing to significantly improve the learning

environment for thousands of children and to rectify problems that have

dragged on for decades. The bond will provide funds to insulate and repair

the schools, improve air quality, bring older buildings up to current code

and cover the costs of new buildings - replacing eight of the district's

most deteriorated schools - under the district's

capital-facilities-improvement plan.

But, these upgrades will be further delayed - and our kids will not have the

learning environment they deserve - if we fail to pass the March 12 bond. It

has been far too long for the students and families in our community who

have been forced to study and learn in buildings where excessive aircraft

noise and unsafe and unhealthy conditions in the classroom are the status

quo. We simply must do better.

I sincerely hope that we step up to the plate and do the right thing for

kids in Highline. On Tuesday, we can take a step toward reversing the

decline in the Highline School District and, at the same time, generate an

additional $150 million in local, state and federal resources.

I hope you'll get out to vote on Tuesday, support the bond, and tell your

neighbors and family to do the same.

We can make good on the promise of providing a topnotch education and a safe

learning environment for the children in our community. It's an opportunity

to invest in our kids and our future - and it's one that we cannot afford to

pass up.

U.S. Rep. Adam , D-Tacoma, represents the 9th District.