Our youngest child graduates from Port Angeles High School in June this year, and I realize that this [Feb. 14 Port Angeles School District levy] will be the first maintenance and operations levy that will not directly benefit my kids.
This time, my wife and I are voting yes for education for the health and vitality of our community.
We are voting yes for our kids.
Both our children experienced strong academics, learned practical technology skills, gained strength through the hard work, cooperation and service in sports and music and club activities.
Throughout the years, they have formed relationships with excellent teachers and have been nurtured by an administration that is attentive and professional.
I am confident that they are ready to make their way in the world as independent adults.
There are many ways in which our schools can and should be improved, but we are grateful for the quality of education here in Port Angeles, and that is partly due to voters’ consistent history of passing maintenance and operations levies.
In a letter to George Wythe in 1786, Thomas Jefferson wrote of education, “No other sure foundation can be devised, for the preservation of freedom and happiness.”
Supporting public education through taxation is as American as apple pie.
Voting to fund schools is an act of red, white and blue patriotism that strengthens our community as well as our nation.
It is money well spent.
Please join us in paying it forward.
Vote yes by Feb. 14.
Dr. Rob Epstein,
Port Angeles