Our community must come together to pass the proposed Seaside School Bond to build a safe, secure place for children today and into the future to learn. I urge you to visit the www.voteyesforlocalschools.com website to see for yourself the deplorable condition of our schools. How can we retain and recruit the best teachers? How can students possibly feel that we value their learning? Yes, the tsunami is also a serious concern. But even if it were not a factor, our school facilities are woefully inadequate.

The American Association of University Women strongly advocates for quality education for all children. As a member of our local group and a retired educator, I also place a high priority on education as a child’s path to a productive and positive future. This bond is not only about our youth, it is about you. You are likely to attend concerts, plays, sporting events, adult education or community gatherings in our school facilities. Shouldn’t all of these events happen in a safe place? Shouldn’t we have a structurally safe place to go in the case of an emergency?

We all count on our schools and now they are counting on us. Vote yes for the school bond. It is urgent, and it is the right thing to do.

Jane McGeehan

Seaside