To the editor:

After several years in Scandinavia, my family and I recently returned to Bainbridge Island and were very happy to see the first (that I am aware of) contested school board election in many years.

The lack of public debate and healthy competition surrounding Bainbridge Island school board elections has long been a point of personal frustration. Unlike many, our concerns are not about specific fiscal issues or a general dissatisfaction with the quality of education our children have received. My concern has more to do with the vision the district has for our schools and the process by which our representatives are chosen.

We have good schools, yet, we can have better and it is fair for us to seek higher standards. With the great resources we have on the island, including the teachers, parents, community members and our financial resources, we should be continually striving for higher levels of achievement.

At the moment, I do not see this in our current school board and, more importantly, I do not see the required rigor and diversity of opinion in our election process to make this happen. Therefore, I applaud and support Dale Perry’s efforts to bring a new voice to the school board.

Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and having lived in many countries around the world, Dale brings a unique set of experiences, vision and energy to a process that deserves the best the Island can offer.

In my opinion, Dale is one of our best and I hope that you will consider voting for Dale Perry in our upcoming elections.

JACK BRYAN

Bainbridge Island