This week, voters in the Coupeville School District will receive ballots asking them to approve a $5-million capital facilities levy.

If approved, the levy will collect $5 million in property tax revenue over three years, starting in 2016.

The levy would cost a homeowner with a $200,000 home about $180 a year in property taxes, according to the school district.

The levy will fund upgrades and repairs to school facilities, including replacing heating and ventilation units in the middle and elementary schools, replacing the middle school roof and flooring as well as updates and repairs to the district athletic facilities.

Campaign chairman Ian Somes said it best this week, breaking down the importance of the levy in one sentence.

“Kids should be able to focus on learning and not being cold.”

Coupeville students are getting a great education with caring, compassionate teachers, but they’re getting that education in an elementary school with dated bathrooms and holes in the walls.

Middle schoolers have an aging roof, cracked floors and a dying heating system.

School officials say they’ve gotten a lot of use out of the facilities. The track, for example, that was installed in 1984 and gym bleachers have been there since the 1970s.

The district hoped to use the gym bleachers for the remainder of the school year, but a section has failed.

The motor died and, because the bleachers are so old, a replacement motor cannot be found.

The district plans to manually pull out the bleachers one more time for graduation and is in the process of seeking a loan from the state to replace them.

The hope is to pay that additional debt with levy funds.

It’s time to reinvest into school district infrastructure.

The school district facilities aren’t just used for students. The district plays host to community events and offers activities like school plays and other performances.

During large tourism events, visitors seek parking at the schools and groups host activities in the athletic facilities.

Investing in school infrastructure is not only investing in student learning, it’s investing in the community as a whole.

We hope voters mark that “yes” box when their ballots come this week.