I’d like to voice my strong support for building a new track at Vashon High School.

The track is our only athletic facility that completely fails to meet basic standards for safety and competition. It is in such poor condition that it puts our athletes at a real disadvantage. It is dangerously slippery and muddy when wet and rock-hard when dry.

Other schools aren’t even allowed to compete on Vashon, meaning that our track team must travel off-island to every meet. Unlike every other school sport, they never enjoy the honor and pleasure of hosting a home event. This is a glaring deficiency in an otherwise excellent school district.

I realize that the football field, stadium, and gym are also under consideration for replacement or improvement. However, while not ideal, these facilities are currently usable, functional and “legal” for competition. The track is not.

Please, please, please ensure that the track is the district’s first priority when funding athletic facilities at VHS. Everything else can wait. The track simply cannot. It is already defunct and way past due for replacement.

— Katrina Lande