By BRIAN BECKLEY
Kent Reporter General assignment reporter
February 9, 2010 · Updated 2:12 PM
The Kent Education Association hosted a rally Feb. 6 in support of the Kent School District levy propositions on the Feb. 9 ballot complete with sign-waving, entertainment and speeches form community leaders.
According to KEA president Lisa Brackin Johnson, the rally drew more than 50 people to Mill Creek Middle School on Saturday to show their support.
Brackin Johnson said the KEA supports the levies because its members know what it means to the students.
“As teachers, we know and understand the importance of these levies,” Brackin Johnson said Monday. “We need to support what happens in the classroom.”
The maintenance and operations levy pays for 20 percent of the district’s budget, including most extracurricular activities, all athletics, transportation funding and smaller class sizes.
Speaking in favor of the levy during Saturday’s rally were Kent Schools Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas, Citizens for Kent Schools chair and Kent City Councilman Dennis Higgins, Mayor Suzette Cooke, Kent Area PTA Council president Sharon Pfeiffer, Roger Baron of the Lucy Lopez Center, Ben Kodoma of the Asian Pacific Island Think Tank and State Sen. Claudia Kauffman.
Brackin Johnson said she was feeling very positive about the levies, election day of which was Feb. 9 with mail-in ballots.
“We come from a community that has always strongly supported Kent schools,” Brackin Johnson said. “I think we’re going to be alright.”
Contact Kent Reporter General assignment reporter Brian Beckley at bbeckley@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5054.Comment on this story.
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