I am an alum of the Camden-Rockport School system, a business owner, and a parent, and I support the new middle school bond issue. I hope any undecided voters and those planning to vote against the new middle school will seriously consider the dollar difference between these two options. It ISN'T $0 versus $26 million. It's around $16 million versus $26 million. Sixteen million dollars is the minimum amount based on the engineering report to continue patching the elderly, failing building and keep it going. Spending $16 million on patchwork is a waste. I believe it's time to stop throwing money into a sinking ship.

I'm currently involved in organizing our 20th high school reunion; I cannot believe that much time has passed, but it has –and, in fact, I recall our school was already patched and outdated when I was there. I entered middle school in 1990, twenty-seven years ago, when the building was both the middle school and the high school. There were three major additions before I entered the schools and one since I've left. That's four additions to a school initially built almost 100 years ago. Patchwork upon patchwork, never a complete and efficient design or vision. I recall being a teen in the '90s and going to other schools for extracurricular activities – frankly, our own schools seemed shabby and from a bygone era even then.

I know we all pay a lot in property taxes and between 60 and 66 percent of our tax dollars already go to schools; however, the investment in the schools is an important investment in our community. I feel so fortunate that the elementary and high schools are now such gorgeous, bright, state-of-the art buildings. Honestly, I felt something akin to envy when I first saw these buildings in comparison to the schools I matriculated through! I truly don't know how they've managed to keep the middle school going.

Actually I do: they've managed to do it because the teachers, administrators and staff care about providing a welcoming, cheerful and positive place for the students to come learn. Again, at a certain point though, you stop throwing money into a sinking ship. I used that analogy a few months ago; little did I know that one of the back wings, built on top of old wood shavings from the wood shop, is quite literally sinking!
As a parent, business owner and home owner, I feel tremendous pride in being part of a community with a great, enviable school system. I don't want to see that slip (or sink!) even a little. And I'm also someone who does not want to spend $16 million on the bare minimum and more patching. That's too much money. It's time for a new school.

Elizabeth Valente Senders lives in Camden