I will be voting yes on the school bond referendum Feb. 10. The Camden selectmen's letter against the project disappointed me. I expect clearer thinking from the people we put in charge of running our town. It reminds me of the time when Camden-Rockport Elementary School was in the building project stage. Some prominent figures thought it was rushed, and we needed more time to consider the project before putting it to vote - this despite voter approval of money to hire architects to develop a plan, and many months of discussions and public forums. There were vocal townspeople who thought it was perfectly fine to have the elementary students spread out over three campuses (one partially condemned). There were critics who said that in an ideal world, it would be nice to provide kindergarten through fourth-grade students with a good quality facility - but we just couldn't afford it. The school vote passed, and I do not think many residents are sorry that our town has a great elementary facility. I doubt it's been bad for business, or dissuaded young families from settling in Camden and Rockport.

As the selectmen correctly note in their letter, our towns will have to pay for the middle school with no state aid. As with the elementary school, we do not qualify for aid because our property values are too high. The Camden selectmen are wrong, however, when they assert that the school board isn't using an accurate interest rate estimate. Anyone can go the the Maine Bond Bank website and see for themselves. The rate given (1.3-3.4 percent for a 20-year bond) is the same as the school board uses in their estimates. With rates at historic lows, this is another advantage to moving forward on the project now.

Our current middle school building is in rough shape. It's a mismatched collection of aging wings that is expensive to heat, and so costly to maintain that every year needed repairs and upgrades are put off. This cannot go on indefinitely; big money will have be spent to keep the building going. The waiting list of repairs and maintenance is in the multimillions, and includes important issues like fire safety, ADA compliance, ventilation and heating. Soon, the elevators will need to be replaced and the kitchen updated. Ignoring the maintenance needs of the school forever is not an option. Vote to make the smart choice of investing in a new building that will last for 50-plus years, instead of pouring millions into an overlarge and obsolete money pit. The new building would save $80,000 per year on energy costs, alone.

The school project is focused on the middle school primarily, but also takes care of all of our school district's remaining longstanding facility needs: $24 million for the new school building, and four slated for moving district administration and other programming from the bus barn to the Mary E. Taylor building, allowing the bus barn to be used as designed for bus storage and maintenance, and correcting problems with the playing fields.

The school plan before the voters is superior to other renovation alternatives that were given careful consideration by the school board and interested members of the public. At 18 million, the least expensive renovation plan is still 75 percent of the cost of a new building, and would not be nearly as energy efficient, as good educationally, or meet the safety needs of students. By building a new facility, the middle school can be sited back from the road, allowing for proper security for the building and a safe separation of bus, car, and pedestrian traffic. I have long felt that despite efforts by our district to improve safety, the current jumbled, clogged mix of kids on foot, buses, cars, and parking is an accident waiting to happen. A safe, healthy and functional middle school is a priority for our community, and well worth the investment. Camden and Rockport voters, please join me in voting yes on Feb. 10.

Lorna Cummings lives in Camden