Letter to the Editor: Ghazel Has Demonstrated Ability

Dear Editor,

I write to offer strong support for Tony Ghazel in his bid for re-election to the school board. Tony has demonstrated financial acumen, excellent understanding of complex business and social issues, and an ability to interact effectively with a broad range of people. His work with state government personnel in his role as a member of our school board will prove of lasting value with respect to state funding issues, helping to insure that our children receive a quality education in a safe and nurturing environment.

Education has always been important on Orcas Island, but more than once has been the victim of dire economic times. Let’s not allow that to happen again. The island newspaper reported in the mid-1920’s that the fire escape for our school consisted of a knotted rope affixed to a bookcase and thrown out a second-floor window. In 1946, our local paper reported that a tarpaper shack was being used for two classrooms, despite a total lack of heat in the winter months. In the 1950’s Margaret Exton, my favorite teacher, wrote a letter to the editor of the “Orcas Islander” newspaper in which she related that the condition of the school playground was “….simply distressing.”

We should do all we can to insure that future islanders don’t tell those sorts of stories on us and our handling of the most important institutions on Orcas Island – our schools. We can do that by re-electing Tony Ghazel.

Sincerely,

Tom Welch
Olga