To the editor:

I am a Portsmouth resident and voter, and I have no school-age children. Here’s why I am enthusiastic about supporting the $21.44 million school facilities bond in the special election on Nov. 2.
First, it is common sense for the town to keep its buildings in good repair. They should be able to meet today’s standards for health and safety. The school buildings are valuable assets, and to replace any one of them would require a much bigger bond. Several towns in Rhode Island, including Newport, are already in this position, and the costs they are anticipating are astronomical.  This bond ensures that our school buildings will be around and usable for the foreseeable future. 

Second, this bond makes good financial sense. The projects included in this bond will have to be completed, whether or not the bond passes.  By paying for them with a bond, rather than year by year, we can take advantage of extremely low interest rates, and qualify for 40-percent reimbursement from the state. The financial details, as well as many other details, are spelled out on the district website at portsmouthschoolsri.org.
Third, I firmly believe that having a strong, well-run and respected school system helps everyone in the town. We attract families to our town; many military families choose to live here for and it was one of the reasons I decided to buy a home and be a part of this community even though I do not have children. A vibrant school system demonstrates a strong community involvement and that results in property value for all of us. It also builds a community that values learning, and is motivated to keep our town growing toward the future as well as showing our support for building an excellent public-school education for all children and that is a cornerstone of our Democracy.

Please vote “yes” to support the school facilities bond (Question 1), to support not only the schools and the students, but to support the entire Portsmouth community. You can vote in person on Nov. 2 or go to portsmouthri.com to learn how to vote early or by mail.

Ray Davis

141 Rhode Island Boulevard

Portsmouth