I am writing to share why I will be voting “no” for 4A, Summit School District’s $195.4 million bond with a roughly $380 million payback over 30 years. This is a huge debt which neglects our most pressing need: academic improvement.

I am pro-public education, and I’m a Summit School District parent. Voting “no” for 4A is not anti-public school. I believe that there are several good projects included in the bond, such as career technical education and a usable track at Summit High School. The bond’s focus on non-essential projects such as rebuilding Breckenridge Elementary and entering into the housing market detracts from the district’s primary mission: educational excellence.

Summit School District’s state accreditation has plummeted from 81.5% in 2014 (Distinction) to just 55% (Improvement) in 2024. This alarming decline underscores the urgent need for focused investment in educational support. Instead of tying up critical funding in optional infrastructure, we should prioritize initiatives that directly enhance academic outcomes. Notably, salaries and benefits cannot be included in a bond, so what impact will this long-term fiscal commitment have on hiring and retaining quality teachers? Facilities are important, but they don’t teach.

Additionally, the fact that the teachers’ union is not taking a “pro-bond” stance raises concerns. If teachers believed this bond would improve student achievement, they would be aggressively lobbying for approval.

Lastly, some pro-4A talking points state that renters will not have to pay for this bond. This is grossly misleading because these increased costs will be passed on to renters.

Let’s prioritize what truly matters for our community: enhancing academic outcomes for all students rather than committing to expensive projects that do not address our educational crisis. Let’s challenge the district to bring forward single-issue bond questions in the future, instead of a mishmash of projects.