In a few short days, our schools will be asking for financial support.

In full disclosure, I am a teacher, and have a vested interest in the well-being of our school system.

I am writing this letter because I am dedicated to the students in our district, and I will feel irresponsible if I don’t support the young people I have grown to appreciate and admire.

With your good grace, I would like to submit two ways of looking at this decision that are important to me.

View number one is — that the schools are giving us an opportunity to do a good deed. Doing good makes us feel good.

View number two is — to visualize the faces of our young people.

I believe that we have the nicest, most thoughtful, kind, curious, brave, intelligent students imaginable. If you could see what I see every day, you would agree that they are all the brightest and the best.

Please picture the faces of your grandkids, nephews, nieces, your own kids, and your neighbor’s — imagine looking into their youthful eyes, and upon their glowing young faces. This is what the vote is about. It is about young people growing up in a challenging world, and the memories of Kalispell that we leave in their hearts.

Before you vote, ask yourself the following:

1) Do we want to say to our kids, “life is tough, sorry, buck up and accept a crumbling, outdated school?” or,

2) “You are worthy.”

There are things we don’t like to do in life — but we do them, because we are responsible citizens. We do them with a sense of calm acceptance.

Thank you for your consideration. —Steve Eckels, Kalispell