In the Dr. Suess book “Horton Hears a Who,” every voice is needed to be heard to save the Whos in Who-ville. One of the smallest boys adds his voice “yop!” and the town is saved and to quote Suess, “A person is a person no matter how small.”

It is urgent that every voice in this valley speak up by voting yes on the Tahoma bond coming Nov. 5. By doing nothing, you are not helping to save our town’s public schools and their future. There has been low voter turnout and apathy in past years when choices have been needed to be made for our schools. This bond proposal is really by far the best answer and solution to the overcrowded schools.

Our family moved to Maple Valley in 1992. At the time we had three children and were looking for a home, a school district and church to participate in. We moved here and have been very pleased and happy to call Maple Valley home. We welcomed three more children and now 21 years later, have four Tahoma High graduates and two more coming soon.

The Maple Valley community itself is outstanding with many families moving here for the same reasons we did. We have a wonderful library system and a community center that cares about kids and teens. There are many churches in our area that are being built to accommodate growing congregations. The homes that are built are in neighborhoods that encourage neighbors to watch out for and help each other. These are just a few of the ways our community cares and is supportive of growing families. We have been here and have lived through the enormous growth of Maple Valley as a city and the families are still coming!

So, guess what? The Tahoma schools have grown in size of students without growing in size of accommodations. We have actually lived this with our children attending most schools in our district and have been realigned more than once with very little interruption with their quality education. We have been pleased with how the schools have had to “make do” with what they had to work with over and over again.

An example from our family, our children are performers in music and drama. That old middle school auditorium is just that — old and falling apart and not near the space or room needed. Not to mention the tricky scheduling of all plays, concerts and the rehearsals for the middle school, the junior high and high school plays so they can have adequate space and time to rehearse and perform a quality show. There were no seats left on closing night last spring for “Les Miserables” and there were close to 100 people turned away. This only goes to further show the potential this growing town has and the urgent need to accommodate.

I think most families in this community agree that we all try to “make do” with what we have to be as self sufficient as we can. But I think you will also agree there comes a time when it is necessary to invest in something that will last and not keep breaking down.

I would like to summarize with this question. What else would you like to see built in the Donut Hole? I am voting for a beautiful high school and learning center, sports fields, performing arts center, etc., and a place for our children to have room to learn, grow and flourish. This proposal makes the most sense to me as the best resolution to a problem that has been taxing us for many years.

To those of you without children in the schools, my hope is that you will realize that your contributions to this solution will have a positive influence on the coming generations and will make a difference for the better. Now is the time to vote yes for the bond. I am calling attention to any citizen out there that isn’t registered to vote to take the few minutes and get it done! I am also calling attention to every family, neighbor and friend to support our growing schools.

We need this bond to pass! This community will continue to grow and we need to support what is already in place as one of the best school districts in our state!

Suzie Whatcott

Maple Valley