[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
Dear Editor and Highline community,
This is my first-ever Letter to the Editor. I was born and raised in the Highline School District, graduated from here, and my kids will go here. I also successfully co-led campaigns to pass operating levies and construction bonds for our district’s students through an independent organization called Yes for Highline.
I am writing to express my strong support for the re-election of Angelica Alvarez, Joe Van, Damarys Espinoza and Blaine Holien to the Highline School Board, and ask for your vote to APPROVE Highline Proposition No. 1 – renewal of educational programs and operating levy.
During a period of incredible disruption for our country and our state, we need strong & steady leadership on our school board as well as continued funding to provide critical supports to our students through the levy (such as health services, safety & security, and college & career readiness). From my personal experience with the 2022 construction bond, Highline has proven to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars, building new schools on time and on budget.
I’d like to share two stories which frame the stakes of this election:
1) Of the school board directors, I know Joe Van the best. He’s a proud alum of the district, his wife is an alum, and his kids are all alums. His story resonates with me because where your kids go to school is one of the most important decisions you can make as a parent, and Joe and his wife chose Highline Public Schools. Now that his kids have all graduated, this would have been the perfect time to step back and enjoy his new found status as an empty nester. But Joe is signing up to serve again because he believes in our public schools and he believes that they can be better.
Is Highline perfect? No. Is any school district perfect? No. But I have seen Joe and his school board colleagues demonstrate the integrity, thoughtfulness and courage needed to push for continued progress and hold our district accountable for delivering quality educational experiences and positive life outcomes for all students.
2) Back in June, at the farewell event for my alma mater Evergreen HS, a woman introduced herself to me as Joe Van’s opponent in the upcoming school board election. Instead of asking me for my name, she asked if I was… Joe Van. This interaction was problematic for a couple reasons, but what concerns me most is that if you don’t even recognize your opponent, how can we trust you to recognize the challenges and opportunities in our district?
We need school board members who deeply understand our communities and who possess the knowledge, track record, and temperament to lead us during this important moment. We also need to continue funding critical services through the levy while holding the district accountable for delivering results for our children. For those reasons, I ask that you re-elect Angelica, Joe, Damarys and Blaine, and vote to APPROVE Highline Proposition 1.
– Long Phan
White Center resident
Soon-to-be Highline parent
Former co-chair of Yes for Highline
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