Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Tammy Campbell made a thorough and shocking presentation at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting. She was presenting the rationale for the bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot. Her remarks were supplemented by comments from local students, describing the deplorable conditions of our schools.

I was appalled by the pictures Dr. Campbell showed. Mold and mildew were rampant. Leaking roofs had water cascading into hallways. Broken boilers meant no heat for extended periods of time. Wiring was inadequate for today’s technology. Bathrooms had no stalls. Floors sloped, and walls were cracked. Ceiling tiles were damaged or broken. The environment is unhealthy and a deterrent to education.

Schools are overcrowded, and portable classrooms are in heavy use. They do not have restroom facilities, which means students have to go to the main building, in all weather, to use the facilities.

It is imperative that the Nov. 7 bond issue passes. It does not require a tax increase. The improvements will be paid for with a continuation of current tax levels. And thanks to the state Legislature’s McCleary decision, tax rates drop in 2019.

I urge everyone to vote yes for the Nov. 7 school bond issue.

H. David Kaplan, Federal Way