To the Editor:

I am writing to help inspire your readers to vote “yes” on the 2013-2014 Fairfax County School bond referendum on Nov. 5th. If you vote yes you are supporting prudent reinvestment of money back into our world class school system that helps attract new businesses to Fairfax County, one of the best places to live and work in the U.S. Delaying capital improvements will result in a lower quality education to a growing student population. Our children deserve to have excellent facilities, resources and a highly educated and talented staff so they can be successful through college and in their working years.

These school bonds are issued at a low interest rate and will fund the construction of new schools and improve more than 20 FCPS facilities across the county! As you know, construction costs are at an all-time low and therefore the timing is now. We need to make those improvements! Our continued growth has resulted in more students being taught in temporary “trailer” classrooms because the current school buildings do not have the space for increased enrollment. Building more classrooms will provide the learning environment our kids need and will maintain Fairfax County’s reputation for top-notch public schools.

When your readers vote “yes,” they are also supporting over 2,000 community organizations that use these FCPS facilities and about 250,000 of your friends and neighbors that participate in recreational activities on school grounds. The benefits to our children and the community are invaluable and the only vote that makes sense is “yes.” On Nov. 5th, please vote to support our schools by voting “yes” on the school bond referendum.

Dana Weinberg

Fairfax