For the past two years, I have taught at Lakeridge and am a Mercer Island resident. I wanted to work for the Mercer Island School District because I wanted to teach in the community in which I live and also where my daughter attends school.

I previously taught in Issaquah for 10 years in a newly constructed 21st century school. Frankly, I was shocked by how old the schools are on the Island. While well-cared for, the schools are lacking many of the essential features for modern educational needs. For example, my former school had small learning spaces for parents and paraprofessionals to use when working with students, wide hallways, a separate cafeteria and gymnasium, a music room large enough to hold instruments and students, and integrated technologies.

There are only so many things I can do as a teacher with inadequate facilities. For example, at Lakeridge, we have three lunch shifts in order to fit all the students in the multi-purpose room. Lunches are short, and the kids don’t have enough time to eat. Students are often hungry and unfocused during afternoon instruction.

Our schools are clearly overcrowded and outdated. Our students deserve to learn in an environment that is modernized and what other neighboring districts have for their students. I would think a community that values education as much as they do would pass a bond that meets the current and future needs of our students.

Please support the bond on April 17 and vote ‘yes.’

Cindi Pacecca

First-grade teacher, Lakeridge