A view persists in the Vashon community that prior to the last bond vote, our school board conspired to hoodwink us by falsely promising to save Vashon High School’s Building A, only to condemn it and build an entirely new school. A vote against the current bond proposition has been promoted as an act of punishment for the board’s past political sins.

This scenario of connivance and deceit is simply not true. I was there, as a member of the citizen advisory committee, for the initial pitch by the capital facilities manager, for interviews with architect candidates, for discussions about design and for the announcement of a general contractor. The unfolding sequence of events leaves no room for conspiratorial spin.

At the outset, many favored a new school building. Nevertheless, to reduce costs and honor individuals who wanted to preserve Building A, the district’s executive committee proposed to keep and re-purpose Building A and move classrooms into a new wing. An architect was chosen with that hybrid solution in mind. Ensuing discussion focused on extracting as much functionality and aesthetic appeal from a design likened to the ill-conceived union of an aircraft carrier and the Starship Enterprise.

It was after this expenditure of time and money that a general contractor came onboard. The contractor told the executive committee at the 11th hour that a brand new building would cost about the same as the less-functional ugly-duckling hybrid. After an intense debate, which included input from the re-activated citizen advisory committee, the executive committee chose to forsake Building A and build the new school we have today.

No conspiracy there, only reaction and response to changing circumstances. That’s what happened. So, as you prepare to vote on Proposition 1, please make your decision based solely on the merits of the current proposal.

— Tom DeVries