Kids are our future: support Kent school levies – Column

As we enter the New Year 2010, we will be faced with many new challenges, choices and decisions.

We are as a society and community diverse in background and ideas. I believe it is possible for people to come together from these various positions for the common good of all when we have at the center some common ground we all value. I would like to believe that is our young people — children. And if it is not our young people it is the value they can bring to society as workers in the future, taxpayers, and consumers. Still at the heart is the value placement. Feb. 9, 2010 will be the day of reckoning. Do we stand behind the improvement of our schools and show our support by voting for the two new replacement levy proposals or not?

I vote yes.

Why?

These two levies are not new taxes. They replace the four-year levies that were approved in 2006 and expire at the end of 2010.

The Facts: Proposition 1-Replacement School Program and Operations Levy

This four-year levy provides 20 percent of the district’s annual operational revenue. It bridges the gap between state funding, which is the largest source – 64.6 percent and federal funds at 12.3 percent, and 3.2 percent other sources.

This levy pays for supplies, services, and approximately one in five employees.

I would like to list some concrete examples:

• Transportation services

• Smaller elementary class sizes

• Extra help to address larger class sizes in middle and high schools

• Additional classroom supplies

• Music and drama programs

• Extracurricular programs such as athletics

• Safety officers in our schools

• Clean health and well-maintained schools and classrooms

I would “not” like to visualize a 20 percent reduction in any of those areas if this proposal fails. How does this help our Community move forward by short changing our most vulnerable in our population? How does this help tap and maximize our greatest resource — our kids? How does this impact them finding their dream?

Proposition 2: The Replacement Technology Levy

This proposal allows KSD to continue paying the cost of maintaining the technology tools used by the students and teachers on a daily basis. We are in the 21st century and in order to compete today our children have to be prepared for this technology that is all around us in the workforce and in our daily lives.

Take a moment to go to the Web site www.tech4Kent.org and you will see for yourself how our local community workforce uses this technology daily and also you will see Kent Schools presenting and using it in their classrooms starting on the elementary level.

Again I would like to use a few concrete examples Proposition 2 would provide:

Student computers for classrooms and libraries

Teaching stations 1 in every classroom

Station includes:

1.Multimedia projector

2.Document camera

3.DVD player

4.Interactive white board classroom computers for teachers’ use

The value a community places on education will determine its future. Drop by any realty office and they will tell you that neighborhoods with good school districts increase property value. This is good for business. Communities where kids have access to learning and after school programs have reduced crime statistics.

Communities where people have people interested in their schools simply stay in touch with one another and connect. It is obvious from our OSPI Web site KSD is a very diverse one. Reaching out to all children from all backgrounds only enriches society. Together we can show this POWER OF COMMUNITY. Together we can invest in schools instead of prisons.

In closing, I know several of you are saying “just show me the bottom line”, so I will conclude with the charts for funding.

The facts simply are the facts. What you do with them will be a reflection on our society in this community we all live in and are surrounded by. Each one of you has the power to shape it in your vote. Do not miss this opportunity to have your voice count.

Proposition 1 (Maintenance and Operation Levy)

Levy year collected year levy rate levy amount

2010 2011 $3.16 $56.1 million

2011 2012 $3.28 $59.5 million

2012 2013 $3.30 $62 million

2013 2014 $3.28 $64 million

Proposition 2 (Technology Levy)

Levy year collection year levy rate levy amount

2010 2011 $0.28 $5 million

2011 2012 0.28 $5 million

2012 2013 0.27 $5 million

2013 2014 0.26 $5 million