I’m writing today to voice my support for the upcoming Sequim school bond. Since graduating from Sequim High School in 2004 I’ve worked as a research scientist and engineer in the aerospace industry. I firmly believe in the power of data to tell a story, and have a few facts I’d like to pass along.

A study led by professors at California State University and the Levy Economics Institute showed that additional K-12 resources “lead to improved student outcomes and higher quality schools.” The findings then confirmed that, “school quality has positive effects on economic development … and local housing values.”

Conversely, their research revealed that decreases in K-12 expenditures reduced graduation rates, personal income, employment, small business starts and aggregate home values in both the short and long term.

A second study conducted at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania revealed that, “public education expenditures … contributed to reductions in poverty rates.” This in turn led to local economic gains as well as “other non-economic social benefits, such as reduced crime rates and improvements in the quality of life.”

Additionally, it was noted that there were “significant statistical correlations between increased public education spending and decreased instances of property crime.”

While these are just two examples, the research consistently shows that funding local schools not only benefits students and teachers but the entire community, both socially and economically, in greater proportion than the expenditures.

I encourage you to keep these facts in mind and join me in supporting the upcoming school bond.

Hans C. Boenish

Bayfield, Colo.