Ridgefield resident Michelle Carroll offers her support for the Ridgefield school bond in the April 23 special election

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

There is an upcoming vote in the city of Ridgefield, and I urge you with all my being to go out and please vote for our kids and the needed classroom space. Your vote counts!

I am a mother of 5 kids (ages) 15,12,12,5, & 3, four of which are in the Ridgefield School District currently. I have a freshman, two 6th graders and a kindergartener. I have watched Ridgefield’s growth over the last eight years that we have lived here in this amazing city. And while growth is uncomfortable, it is unstoppable. I love this town and everything it stands for. That is why I am voting Yes for Proposition 10 and Proposition 11.

In the last eight years, I have seen this farm town move towards a more urban landscape, while this is sad as the era of farming and sprawling land is being pushed out, it is not ending. This is still a beautiful town, and I am proud to live here.

My hope is that people will look further into the needs of our children. There are those who want to preach that we need to “budget better” or “cut other places.” This simply isn’t an option in the state of Washington as the ONLY (by law) way to build a school is to bond (Bond-Levy FAQs.pdf (wasa-oly.org). Education is also not the place to pinch pennies and give the bare minimum. We have been doing that and there is no more space at the schools.

Our kids deserve the best education we can possibly give. I would gladly pay the proposed amount to further the next generation of people. To make them the best people they can be. Then hopefully they can grow up and help make some needed changes at the state level. I would urge you to get out there and make your voice heard. Please, if you have a child in the school district this is a need – not a want. Please vote yes for Proposition 10 and Proposition 11.

Michelle Carroll
Ridgefield

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