Is Nostalgia Endangering Elementary Schools in the Mid Columbia?

Hermiston has a couple elementary schools that have a poor design if there were ever a safety issue. At least one elementary school in Richland has a similarly problematic design. Why aren't they getting remodeled or replaced? It seems like people in the Mid Columbia like everything to stay the same.
In Hermiston the problem is external doors and hallways. If someone had a gun on campus, it would be too hard to lock all the doors quickly, and difficult to evacuate the children while police corralled the threat. Some older elementary schools in Tri-Cities have no way to evacuate kids if there were a problem. I know of at least one school in Yakima that badly needs a remodel but voters and parents say no.
Schools in the 21st century need two things: a layout that makes it easy for administrators and police to respond to gun threats while safely protecting and evacuating kids. They also need working plumbing and electrical with the right set up for 21st-century educational technology.
Whether it's for budget concerns or just nostalgia, Mid Columbia voters don't always approve the renovation of old schools. Walla Walla was recently heartbroken by their defeated measure. Jefferson Elementary in Richland was forced to stay open after parents and teachers complained.
Are we looking out for what's best for our kids... or for us?
What do you think?