Remember to support school levies and other Tri-City Herald letters to the editor | Opinion

Levy purchase helped save a life

A seventh-grader at Desert Hills Middle in the Kennewick School District is alive today because the right staff and the right equipment were nearby.

According to a district account, two staff members on scene could not find a pulse on the child. One staff member retrieved a nearby AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and along with CPR, revived the student before he was transported to a hospital. A total of five trained staff members contributed to the effort.

The right equipment. The right trained staff.

This is what can happen when schools are properly funded. An AED unit can cost $2,000 each. There are three of them at Desert Hills. Every KSD facility has them available. You paid for them with your levy dollars. Without them, ….

You might be attending a concert or sporting event at school. You or someone else in the crowd might have a medical emergency. The levy that passed a few years ago that was used to purchase the AEDs might mean the difference between life and death.

Support schools. Support increased safety. If you have a school levy on your ballot, Vote YES.

Richard D. Reuther, Kennewick

Health officer has to do what’s right

The Benton Franklin Health District Board offered Dr. Aren Giske, an occupational medicine physician, the position of health officer. The Health Board liked his “ability to be very, very flexible.” I find that very, very worrisome.

The Health Board includes Franklin County Commissioners Didier, Mullen and Peck; and Benton County Commissioners Delvin, Alvarez and McKay. None has a medical or public health background. Valuable input from local health professionals should have been sought during the hiring process.

The powers and duties of a local health officer in Washington state include enforcing the public health statutes of the state, rules of the State Board of Health and the Secretary of Health and all local health rules. Also included is control and prevention of the spread of any dangerous, contagious, or infectious diseases that may occur within their jurisdiction.

These items do not leave room for a lot of flexibility.

I wish the best of luck for Dr. Giske. His job will be to protect the health of the citizens of Benton and Franklin counties. His predecessor, Dr. Amy Person, showed the importance of having a dedicated local health officer.

Amy Small, Richland

Levies help keep community strong

Pasco Citizens for Better Schools formed after a heart-breaking double levy failure in the early 1970s. A historic recall of the entire school board followed. It took 35 years to reintroduce orchestra.

For decades, this group has advocated passing bonds and levies, sharing a high success rate with voters. We cheer nearby communities when their funding requests pass. We want to see good schools, strong academic programs and competitive teams for all students across the region because, sadly, you can’t all live in Pasco.

Private and homeschooling families have access to services and want the best in public education. We have proved the point; investors look for communities with good schools where they can build or expand their businesses. Employers require a well-prepared workforce.

New homeowners share the burden, schools do not get more money than what the voters approve during each levy cycle. Bonds only build schools or make capital improvements. Both are eligible for millions of dollars in state matching funds — if they pass.

Voters have the opportunity to make the difference. Be educated; information is available through your respective school districts. Vote Yes today and return your ballot no later than Feb. 14.

Valerie Moffitt, Pasco