In Washington (and nationwide), public schools are chronically underfunded. State funding alone does not provide enough money to support the quality of education and services we as a community have come to expect. If forced to operate with nothing more than state funding, our schools would be operating at “just good enough” levels. But we justifiably want – and expect – more than “good enough.” Our community has, for years, generously passed numerous levies and bonds which augment state funding, and we have the student-teacher ratios, facilities, and academic programs to show for it.
In January we’ll be asked to renew our commitment to this level of excellence. We’ll be asked to vote on Proposition 1 and Proposition 2. Prop 1 is an Education Programs and Operations (EPO) levy, while Proposition 2 is a Replacement Technology and Capital levy. Neither levy is new. Each is a renewal of what we approved in 2018; when combined, the estimated rate of $1.28 per $1,000 of assessed property value is less than what we approved in 2018.
Choosing to renew the EPO levy will ensure our students retain smaller class sizes; Advanced Placement, Highly Capable, and Career and Technical Education courses; mental health counselors and nurses; early learning; extracurricular activities; and custodial and food services. If Proposition 1 is not approved, there will be significant cuts to some of the most basic services – we’ll be in the realm of barely “good enough.”
Choosing to renew the Replacement Tech and Capital levy will ensure our district retains instructional and operational hardware. This was significant when COVID-19 forced school closures last year and our students quickly resumed learning via a virtual model – this would have been impossible without materials afforded by the 2018 tech levy. Renewing this levy will provide classroom technology at our middle and elementary schools to match our state-of-the-art high school. It will provide resources for planned and proactive building maintenance. This is the hallmark of prudent and responsible financial stewardship, as it addresses aging facilities before the severity and costs of repairs becomes catastrophic.
I encourage you to continue your commitment to Anacortes students by partnering with the district to provide the first-class educational opportunities for which our community is so well known. Vote “YES” on Proposition 1 and 2.
Jack Curtis, Citizens for Anacortes Schools
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash