And as a new homeowner he will see his taxes increase if the Marysville school bonds measure passes April 26.

But as he was placing a sign supporting that cause in his yard this week, he said he wants to support the youth of the community.

“It’s the first time I’ve put up a yard sign,” he said. “My dad used to make fun of yard art.”

Stenson was born and raised in Marysville, graduating from Marysville-Pilchuck High School in 2004.

“I’m all about Marysville,” he said, adding he has been coaching baseball locally for years, but can’t now because of his job.

Stenson said he thought the schools needed to be fixed up when he was in school.

“It effects you growing up,” he said. “The schools are rundown and need a facelift.”

He said new facilities could help kids want to go to school and help their futures.

“Something like the new Getchell may have helped me focus more on school and not just sports,” he said.

Citizens group

Christen Dickerson also loved going to school in Marysville. But the 2003 M-PHS graduate said the schools themselves were old then and even older now.

That’s why she and Emily Wicks volunteered to be co-chairwomen of Citizens for Marysville Schools.

Their goal – to pass the $230 million in bonds to replace five schools in the Marysville School District: Liberty and Cascade elementaries, Totem and Marysville middle schools and M-PHS. Also, the bonds would fix up all of the other schools.

Volunteers started going door-to-door last weekend and will continue to do so every Saturday until the election. A big rally is being planned April 16. People must register to vote by late March, 29 days before the election.

Dickerson and Wicks are trying to get young families who have kids in school to register and vote. They also are hoping to get high school seniors at all five high schools to sign up. “Young people have a passion,” Dickerson said.

She said she moved with her family to town when she was 5. She started in kindergarten at Liberty. But then she changed to Marshall. “What a different feeling,” she said. “It was like getting an upgrade.”

Wicks was part of the door-to-door campaign. She said most of the responses were positive, saying things like, “It’s about time,” and “Yes, I’m in.” But a few were concerned about increased taxes. The average property owner would pay about $300 a year.

Dickerson said people need to register. “People don’t realize how important it is to vote,” she said, adding that a bond Lakewood passed once only did so by two votes.

Dickerson said their doorbelling campaign is targeting about 1,700 people who have supported schools in the past. “We’re not trying to convince people to vote yes,” she said. “It’s more of a reminder to get them to vote.”

She said they could use more volunteers because they only reached 166 people that first Saturday. They only had about a dozen people and were hoping for at least twice that. Because it’s a bond, it will take a 60 percent supermajority to pass it.

Dickerson said taxes are a concern. “It’s the only reason why people wouldn’t vote for it,” she said.

As a homeowner, she said she doesn’t like higher taxes either, but for schools it’s worth it. “Everybody benefits in the long run,” she said.

School studies

Wicks pointed out various studies that show how improved schools help a community. One of the examples is Marysville itself.

The most-recent state test scores for 5th-graders attending Grove Elementary School (built in 2008) were 20 percent better than 5th-graders at Marysville schools built in the early 1950s. Additionally, 10th-graders at Marysville-Getchell High School (built in 2009) outperformed 10th-graders at M-PHS (built in 1970) by 12.5 percent.

Other study results show:

•Better health, safety and improved absenteeism. Fewer dropouts and better behavior mean less crime.

•Better lighting and acoustics for sound.

•Better administrators and teachers, and improved retention.

•Quality schools attract home buyers and businesses, boosting the economy. Also better property values.

•Better commitment, high morale and enthusiasm

•Ownership and pride motivated to achieve.

•Public meeting and performance space.

•Improved playgrounds, recreation areas and ballfields.

Dickerson said the school district bond is just what a citizen’s advisory committee requested. “You spoke, we listened,” she said.

Dickerson said she has great memories of school here, and wants the same for her three kids.

“I have a lot of pride in this town,” she said. “This bond is so huge – it’s going to change Marysville.”

For more information, go to yesmarysvilleschools.org