Hopefully, by now many readers in the Riverview School District

have heard of the “Physical Education (PE) and Athletic Field & Track

Bond” which will be on the Nov. 7 election ballot. The 00-01 Cedarcrest

PTSA formally endorses and fully supports this measure, which seeks to

remedy the current inequities afflicting the quality of educational and

extracurricular programs offered to students at Cedarcrest and to expand

opportunities for organized field sports for Tolt Middle School.

Would anyone care to explain the school’s inability to test PE

students in running or many field events? Can someone justify why the track

and cross-country athletes must resort to running around through

neighborhoods and are forced to risk long term bone and joint damage

commonly caused by running on concrete surfaces? How do you console the

football and soccer players who are repeatedly confronted with forfeiting

their home-field advantage when competitors refuse to come play, due to

safety issues directly linked to the substandard and overused conditions of

the Tolt field? Once is embarrassing, twice is demoralizing and the third time

is utterly pathetic. Add to that the increased travel hours negatively

impacting time spent on academics and with family. The list continues …

Equally significant is that even for the most outstanding faculty

members and motivated students, it is humanly impossible to overcome the

consequences resulting from the absence of adequate on-site athletic facilities.

This is a classic case of “matter over mind”.

Furthermore, track and field should not remain the only field

sport available to our elementary students from Stillwater, Carnation and

Cherry Valley upon their arrival at the middle school. Since Cedarcrest and

other organized community sports place maximum allowable stress on the

already fragile Tolt field, Tolt has no choice but to cope with restricted

access for its own students.

This bond is drastically scaled down from the previous

proposal ($2.995 million vs. $6.5 million, $.13 per $1000 assessed value vs. $.38

and $26 per year vs. $78 for a home valued at $200,000) and will fund an

all-season field and track with modest necessities (restrooms, coaches

box, bleachers and concessions stand), while making a healthy start to a

complete athletic complex at Cedarcrest. It should be emphasized that

expiring bonds enable the overall average tax rate for school levies and bonds in

this district to be maintained at or below $5 per $1000 assessed value.

The time to “even the playing field” for our children, and the

community support needed to make it a reality, is long overdue. Our kids

are putting forth their best effort to reach their potential and become

productive citizens. Shouldn’t we live up to our end of the bargain by giving them

our best? Thank you, in advance, for your support! Remember, “not

voting” serves as a “no” vote.

Helen Mellor

CHS PTSA president