I would like to express my concerns and wishes regarding the upcoming school bond questions on Nov. 5. I wholeheartedly support the base bond (basic renovations and addition to the high school), as well as the additional bond to construct the outdoor track and artificial turf field.

I feel as though voting in favor of the base bond is the right thing to do. By not supporting this question, we will still be faced with necessary expenses to execute the needed repairs and accommodations for our student population and staff (i.e., modulars, Americans with Disabilities Act modifications, efficiency improvements, etc). If we don’t institute permanent improvements or additions, I liken that outcome to hemming the curtains or rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.

I also feel that the second bond question, for the track and turf field, will be a worthwhile investment, as many teams will benefit (13 or more). Our student athletes depend on responsible adults to provide them with safe and adequate fields. With nearly three-quarters of the student population participating in Freeport High School sports, this initiative is vitally important.

Safety of spectators is of utmost importance also. I can only speak to the field hockey and softball fields, but they both can be so muddy and slippery, it is treacherous. Access to seating areas is tricky, at best.

What might convince voters are some basic financial facts. Annual maintenance of a turf field is nearly one-fifth of the cost of maintaining a natural field ($5,000 vs. $23,000). Transportation costs for indoor/outdoor track practice and relocating home games would also be reduced. The tax impact of this smaller 10-year bond, on the median property value ($162,000), would be roughly $2 per month.

We are living in a constantly increasing technology-based culture. I think many parents and grandparents feel as though their youngsters and teens are too connected to electronics. Don’t we want to encourage healthier lifestyles? Wouldn’t providing the venues to make healthier options more accessible to our youth be the prudent thing to do? What type of message will we send our youth if we don’t support both the base bond and the secondary bond?

Please vote yes for both bonds.

Susan Karnes

Durham