Editorial

Sisters community supported education

Denial by Sisters voters of the $22 million bond issue to construct a new high school should not be taken by those who campaigned hard for the measure as a repudiation of education.

Those same voters supported schools by passing the four-year local option levy -- the only education tax passed in Deschutes County.

Since many voters voted "yes" on the levy and "no" on the bond, we believe they made a decision based on what they felt they could afford and what they believed was the schools' most urgent need.

The problem of the deteriorating, unsuitable and overcrowded Sisters Middle School will not go away. The school board and their campaign allies will have to come up with an alternative solution to that problem.

At the very least, they need to offer voters a concrete design to study and a plan for how they will use proceeds from surplus property. Alternative calendars to temporarily relieve crowding of some facilities need to be explored.

It may be hard to find them, but citizens who backed the levy but voted against the bond need to be consulted. They hold the keys to any future proposal.

J.C. & E.D.