Move forward with independent assessment in Corbett schools

The Corbett School Board should strive to regain community trust by funding an impartial assessment of the district's structure, resources and finances. And community members who have asked for the assessment need to be ready to accept the results at face value.

The Corbett School District and its patrons are at a deciding moment — do they put past differences aside and collaborate in the best long-term interests of children, or do they continue down a road that could lead to disaster.

It's become clear over the years that a segment of the Corbett population is skeptical of any recommendation or decision that originates from the district's administration and School Board. That skepticism manifested itself in four defeated bond measures, that if approved would have paid for critical building improvements. Because of this skepticism, students continue to attend classes in a building fraught with dangers.

In recent months, a fifth try at a bond passage was suggested for the November 2018 ballot, but that idea was mothballed when old trust issues resurfaced, pushing out the possibility of a new bond measure till November 2019. That's another year of waiting for possible voter approval, followed by months or years to accomplish the work. Meanwhile, the well-being of students hangs in the balance.

Of particular concern is the safety of district buildings in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. Scientists have predicted that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is past due for another major earthquake. In the event of a serious quake, Corbett Middle School could be reduced to rubble. Let's hope that happens during the summer months or in the evening when nobody is inside the building. Consultants have also shown that the building contains lead and asbestos and does not comply with laws requiring accessibility for individuals with handicaps.

We pity the voters who stood in the way of building improvements as students are carried off to hospitals. And we pity the school official who could have done something to build trust, but did nothing.

The school board is no less responsible for this mess. When it became clear that distrust of district leadership would likely forever stall building improvements, the elected leaders had an opportunity to do something about it. It was suggested by a community group that an impartial assessment of the district's structure, resources and finances might build sufficient trust to get a bond passed. But since that recommendation was made, the School Board has made no visible progress toward approving an impartial assessment.

The latest School Board meeting, in August, came and went with little discussion on the recommendation. We can't imagine why — if an impartial assessment has even a small possibility of moving this process forward — that the School Board would squander even one more meeting by delaying action in hiring an auditor.

This becomes a pivotal moment.

Assuming the board were to agree at it's upcoming meeting on Sept. 18 to hire the auditor, and to accept the findings without prejudice; then the skeptics of this community should do no less.

The Corbett community has been at this too long. And has already wasted too many years when it could have already accomplished the necessary building improvements. This game of Russian roulette with students health and well-being is shameful.

The Corbett School Board should put aside any sense of misguided pride, and fund this independent audit at its next meeting. Then, assuming the assessment comes back favorable of the district, those in the community who distrust the district administrators will need to bite their lips and allow this district to do the right thing for every enrolled student.

All anyone is asking of the Corbett School administration and patrons is that they do the right thing for kids.