How great was the recent High School graduation? It was lovely to get to learn a little more about these many amazing young adults heading out to such great opportunities. It was inspiring and made us so proud of the teachers and staff, k-12, who invest so much to make excellent education available on Orcas.

We have the chance to ensure that quality continues by voting YES for the upcoming School Levy. This is a replacement levy, not an increase, that provides critical support to our public schools, funding one in five teachers and support staff, career and technical training, special education, music, athletics, farm to classroom, technology and so much more. It is the funding that allows our schools to thrive and ensures that students have every opportunity to excel.

As the community faces the challenges of the pandemic and the schools are being tasked with creating many different scenarios for the coming year, a YES vote is a critical vote of support for the staff and families of the Orcas Island School District.

Hilary Canty and Hank Date

Orcas