Vote yes on bonds

On Feb. 13, 2018, I will enthusiastically vote “yes” in favor of a bond to construct a new Post Middle School, renovate school facilities and improve security. I strongly support the bond being proposed by the Arlington School District because it will replace a deteriorated Post Middle School, add much-needed classroom capacity to Arlington High School; and provide essential improvements to all nine of the district’s existing schools.

When considering the outstanding growth we are experiencing in Arlington and the incredible opportunity we have to provide our children with an educational environment where they are educated, prepared and inspired, I am absolutely committed to advocate in favor of the money the district seeks to meet the needs of our children.

The bond proposal also seeks to provide additional safety and security improvements. These include: secure entryways; upgraded classroom door locks; and the addition of interior and exterior security cameras. Improvements to various school sites will incorporate traffic safety for bus and vehicle traffic; drainage of playfields; improvements to athletic facilities; in addition to playground equipment improvements. There will be improvements to carpet and flooring, building HVAC; fire sprinklers; upgrades to data systems; as well as new amplification systems for classrooms.

Approval of this 20-year bond would not result in a tax rate increase. The new bond would merely replace the current bond, and therefore property tax rates would actually go down by 2019. The bond will also make the district eligible for $8.9 million in state matching funds. Part of these funds will be used to purchase a site for a future elementary school.

Sheri Kelly, Arlington

Store’s Christmas spirit

I went to the dollar store about a week before Christmas. I saw an older women who had lost her bag of gifts. I brought this to the attention of Heather the store manager. She and other store employees helped look for the lost items but could not locate them. In the spirit of Christmas Heather offered the customer the opportunity to replace all lost items at no cost.

Larry Christy, Marysville