In late September of last year, my family was fortunate enough to add another to its ranks. As I sit here reclined on my sofa, he’s nearing his fourth month. Babies are wild!
This little …
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In late September of last year, my family was fortunate enough to add another to its ranks. As I sit here reclined on my sofa, he’s nearing his fourth month. Babies are wild!
This little dude, not two days old, left Jefferson Healthcare with two completely untrained, unsupervised, parents. Don’t get me wrong, we read the books and readied our home, but dang! Until you have one, you do not know what you’re in for.
Two days after forceps helped take him from the warmth of his mother’s womb, two sleep-deprived amateurs were left in charge of keeping him alive.
While in utero, we referred to him as “Creature.” During his first month of life, we worked on getting to know him. Now, eight pounds and gaining, our baby boy was taking us to school.
The crib assembly I spent an afternoon sweating over proved useless for months. The baby (or was it his Mom?) favored a bassinet next to our bed. What little time we had left for idle musings was now entirely his — our lives were now his, solely.
Our dream of reusable diapers remained just that. Here’s a fun fact: babies have no fewer than three evacuation portals, and they’re not afraid to use them.
We are old — we must be — how else do you explain the medical industry’s term “geriatric pregnancy” for an expectant 35-year-old?
We try to find some sort of consolation in Port Townsend’s median age of 64.1, nearly double the national average.
Even that statistic is eclipsed by the age of our high school. By the time our son hits high school, the main building at the Port Townsend campus will be 104 years-old.
That’s pretty amazing when you consider that it has yet to experience a major renovation other than its air-handling equipment and a roof replacement.
Architects and engineers of our era like to say that the designed lifespan of a school in America is 40 to 50 years. So as Port Townsend High School nears the century mark I would expect it is due for more than a hip or knee replacement.
Meanwhile, our taxpayer-funded Jefferson Healthcare is undergoing its second major renovation in the last 10 years. The “outdated” 1965 building is gone, making way for a state-of-the-art facility. That project is on track for completion this year.
Why is it we’re capable of prioritizing modern infrastructure for our medical needs, yet we can’t do the same for our children’s education?
The building standards of 1934 wouldn’t hold up today. Modern schools are built to withstand earthquakes, high winds, and the wear of time. Back then, fire codes were simpler, electrical systems were often unsafe, and accessibility wasn’t even on the radar. In today’s world, we also have to consider safety measures for violence in schools —something not in the design of these old buildings.
It’s not just about outdated buildings: It’s about making sure our schools can meet the demands of a modern education, from safe facilities to the programs that prepare our kids for the future.
In a town like ours, where the sea and its history shape so much of who we are, programs like maritime and place-based initiatives are a big part of what makes our schools special. These programs depend on levy funding to thrive. So do the levies going on the ballot for the Chimacum school district.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve got a horse in this race, but even if you don’t, you’ll still benefit from a yes vote on these levies. Better schools produce a skilled workforce, lower crime rates, and increase civic engagement. They attract families and professionals to our communities. If we want a thriving community with a strong future, voting for these levies is the way forward.
Lloyd Mullen is the publisher of The Port Townsend Leader.