Guest Opinion: Orcas Alumni and Teacher Speaks to Bond Issues

By Corey Wiscomb

After reading both Janet Knowles’ guest column and Chris Bultler’s letter to the Editor in the July 7th, 2010 issue of The Sounder I felt compelled to reply to statements made by the authors that attacked the necessity of the upcoming school bond.  In a thankful way their statements may project questions and/or doubts that other community members may be feeling towards the bond, and so this is a great opportunity to supply the correct information and answers.

First, let me remove the ambiguity about the safety issue that Mr. Butler calls, “the wool over our eyes” being used as propaganda for the new bond:  The Orcas Middle School structure is not up to seismic standard.  When it was built nearly 30 years ago as a new high school the intent was for the building to last 15 years until the next bond would pass.  Why?  Simple, the first bond attempt failed and rather than build a smaller facility at high quality, the decision was made to build the same facility at lesser quality to match the smaller bond that did pass – a mistake that will not be made presently.  Regardless, we are stuck with a large portion of our school facility that, I repeat, does not meet seismic standard.  Take a moment with that.

Second, in response to Mrs. Knowles comment, “… there is no need for a replacement building for the middle school.  The middle school students could be accommodated in the elementary and high school buildings” it becomes necessary to gain knowledge of what we are actually replacing and how many students will be displaced.  The ‘Middle School’ is far more than just a 7th and 8th grade classroom.  As I mentioned before, when the structure was built it was an entire high school.  Currently it encompasses the School Library (K-12); the Music Program and Performance Stage (K-12); the Middle School Commons; the Cafeteria that provides breakfast & lunch for the entire K-12 (many of which are on Free & Reduced meal programs because otherwise they may not have meals); a Middle School Science Lab; the Home Economics Facility (used by Middle School, High School, & OASIS School); the Woodshop Program (Middle & High School); the Middle School Computer Lab; Three High School classrooms (one of which is shared with the middle school); Two middle school classrooms; the Readiness to Learn Program (aids socially, emotionally, & physically impaired youths find success in student life – Grades 7-12); and the OASIS High School classroom.

Now that we are informed and clear on the magnitude of what needs to be rebuilt, it becomes completely illogical to simply pursue accommodating this number of classes and students into other already full facilities such as the Elementary and High School without building replacement structures.

Third, anyone who has been around the building industry can tell you that it is far cheaper to build new than to remodel.  It’s a simple math, and it absolutely applies here – the price tag for repairing the existing structure EXCEEDS the bond amount for building a new one.  And don’t forget that the current Bond also includes several million dollars of necessary repairs to the historic Nellie S. Milton Elementary building and the Old Gymnasium.  One upgrade will be the installation of a functional HVAC system into the locker-rooms of the Old Gymnasium that, during those winter months of steamy showers, perspiring athletes and their equipment, in a room that lacks even a window and becomes so rank and putrid that a after simple walk -through the very air you breathe becomes such a foul taste in your mouth that it will have you postponing your lunch does – to me –  seem quite like a dungeon.

Corey Wiscomb is a 35 year Orcas Resident, teaches for Orcas High School & OASIS, and lives in Doe Bay.