If there is only one thing each family on this Island needs to understand, it is this: state funding for our public schools is abysmal and is expected to continue to decline. The consequence is that the quality of our public schools is now, and for the foreseeable future, dependent on you. Please answer your phone Oct. 25 or 26 and contribute to the Mercer Island Schools Foundation.

One of the main reasons that we have all chosen to live on Mercer Island is that we value a quality education. In order to continue to deliver top-notch curriculum in the smallest possible classes, we need every Mercer Island family to understand how critical you are to our success. Currently, Washington state ranks 46th/42nd on education spending. With that level of support, we cannot look to the state to support our classroom needs.

The Mercer island Schools Foundation provides funding to all five schools on the Island. Thanks to the contributions of over 50 percent of our families, we were able to raise $1.5 million dollars last year, which allowed us to hire 10 teachers and fund key new curriculum in all the schools. The brutal truth is that this is an annual financial crisis we face every year. Our district’s success depends on your generosity.

The Foundation kicks off our annual fundraising efforts with the October Phone-a-thon, now an institution on the Island. Please answer the call on Oct. 25 and 26 when over 150 volunteers reach out to every household on Mercer Island.

We need your donation. We cannot make it without you!

CC Crenshaw and Betsy Robertson contributed this forum piece.