Ridgefield is one of Washington state’s fasting growing cities over the last five years. Nowhere is that more evident than in our overcrowded schools. The school district has taken a fiscally responsible approach to this problem, beginning with a 2012 bond that funded new buildings at both elementary schools and much-needed improvements to all schools during a difficult economic recession. That project came in under budget and maintained the district’s tax rate as the lowest in Clark County.
The next step is the $78 million bond that is on the February ballot, which will leverage an additional $15.5 million in state funding and $5 million from the city of Ridgefield to construct two distinct schools on a single 5th- through 8th-grade campus, add additional classrooms at the high school and provide additional security upgrades at both elementary schools. This approach will greatly increase capacity at grades 5-12 and provide future flexibility for adjustments to changing grade populations, while keeping the tax rate as the second lowest of all Clark County school districts.
Ridgefield School District continues to be an excellent steward of taxpayers’ investment, providing a premier education to our children at the lowest cost. Please join me in voting “yes” for Ridgefield schools.
