Letter: Let’s get “R.E.A.L.” about the school bond

Published 1:34 pm Monday, April 11, 2022

R= Realistic

E= Emotional

A= Absolute

L= Logical

There are too many “Emotional” aspects of this never-ending bond issue and not enough of the R, A and L.

• Emotional: Look at everything in the news today. All the bleeding-heart issues end with the same old line: “It’s for the children.” I don’t know about you, but to me that statement is getting old. Parents are responsible for caring for their children. Teachers are responsible for educating children. Education at this level needs to be in the ways and means of life — such as reading, writing, arithmetic.

There is too much emphasis on buildings and computers, and not enough on mastering fundamentals. Children who can think and reason for themselves without a computer are far more capable of surviving in life than those who simply respond to the actions of a keystroke.

Our children need qualified teachers and a controlled, wholesome environment to learn in. Their education should not be shuffled off to peers on the bus ride or co-mingling on campus with older kids. More time on buses will certainly not benefit north-end children forced to commute back and forth to Ilwaco.

Suggestions that the Ilwaco location will benefit “the children” because it is so much closer to the hospital or that Ilwaco is at a safer elevation are also more grounded in emotion than in reality. Ocean Park has two medical clinics, a pharmacy and a professionally staffed fire department and EMS team within spitting distance of the elementary school. And much of Ilwaco is at an elevation no safer than that in Ocean Park.

Now, on to Realistic, Absolute and Logical:

• Realistic: The bond figure of $96.2 million was calculated on labor, materials, wages and transportation costs some time ago. Anyone who is considering letting out a contract on a project of this magnitude today is a complete bozo! With uncertain/inflationary pricing on just about everything, can advocates honestly state that $96.2 million is still valid? Furthermore, when we adjust that $96.2 million price tag to include inflation, interest and fees, we are looking at an estimated payback of $145 million over the next 25 years. It all adds up to a lose-lose situation for the property taxpayer. Advocates want to time this bond to start at the end of the old one so no one would notice it! They will continue to tax us until we all stand up and say ENOUGH!

• Absolute: We taxpayers are just about finished paying off a loan that was intended to upgrade the existing buildings and properties for future generations. According to an article in the Chinook Observer, the current bond needed a “Special Election” during the month of May to get past voters who weren’t paying enough attention. And what did that do for us in the long run? The Ocean Park school has the highest survivability ratings of any building in Ocean Beach School District. However, after spending $23 million of our taxes on “operational upgrades and renovations,” Superintendent Amy Huntley and the school board now claim the money was wasted because the buildings (in their opinion) are not safe for the children. That reads to me that we, the taxpayers, were taken to the cleaners for $23 million dollars and now they want $96.2 million (plus interest and fees) more! Not a chance! This is absolute, this really happened and is happening to us now!

• Logical: Folks, let’s get R.E.A.L. about this. Granted, issues such as these can bring out the true colors/feelings of many. Emotions run high. That is to be expected. But I urge you to take off the blinders, view the whole situation, past and future. What have past bonds done for us, and what will spending $145 million more do for us in the future?

This is not the time for a project of this magnitude. We, the voters, have the tools, values and common sense to see that this issue is not what this community needs as there are too many unanswered questions and too many false claims such as unsubstantiated savings of $500,000 per year. The proposal/bond needs to be defeated. I urge all of you to stand up and make your voices heard and make your votes count.

Think R.E.A.L. folks!

JOSEPH NATOLI

Ocean Park