The Kent School Board will consider placing a renewal levy on the Feb. 8 ballot and wants to get public input prior to submitting the measure to King County Elections.
The board is expected to discuss passing a resolution for a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy at its Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 meetings, according to a Kent School District statement. The board plans to vote Nov. 10 on the resolution.
“If the school board approves the renewal levy resolution, then voters will have an opportunity to maintain current funding to support Kent School District students, including programs like bullying prevention; safety and security and professional development that is not fully funded by the state for essential staff like classroom teachers, nurses, counselors and bus drivers,” according to the district.
The levy would appear on the February 2022 special election ballot to replace the current levy approved by voters in 2020 that expires in December 2022.
There is a gap between what the state funds and the education the district provides to students. Local levy funds make up the difference. In addition, levy dollars support student enrichment programs not fully funded by the state.
Local funding provides about 16% of the district’s annual budget, according to the district website. The state provides about 78% and the federal government about 5% with about 1% from a variety of fees, grants and donations.
A proposed renewal levy survey was sent by the district to all staff and family members on Sept. 27. The survey is confidential and will close on Oct. 18. The survey is translated to: Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian and, Vietnamese. Students, families, staff and community members are all invited to participate in this survey, which can be found on the district website.
The district’s Thoughexchange online program is another way to provide comment about the proposed levy.
Residents also are invited to comment at the two school board meetings in October and one in November or submit comments to the board through the district website at kent.k12.wa.us/Page/10392.
District leaders will use the survey and exchange information to help inform the replacement levy, communication and engagement. Responses will also be made available to the board before considering the levy renewal resolution.
Voters approved the renewal levy by 55% to 45% in 2020 at a rate of $2.15 per $1,000 in assessed home valuation for two years. The maximum amount that can be collected in 2021 is $69 million. The maximum amount that can be collected in 2022 is $76.2 million.
Voters in 2018 approved the replacement and operations levy with 50.53% in favor.
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