This week, voters in our community will be receiving ballots for a very important election. The ballot includes two levy propositions for our schools: a four-year Educational Programs and Operations Levy, and a four-year Technology Levy. These levies, if approved by the voters, will renew levies passed back in 2010 that are set to expire in 2014. Like us, nearly all of our neighboring school districts are proposing levies of a similar nature in their respective communities.
Levy funds provide for a substantial part of our school district’s budget. In fact, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy provides approximately 24 percent of the funds needed to operate our schools. This levy helps to fill the gap between what is provided by the state, and what is actually necessary to sustain the educational program for the students in our schools. The Technology Levy is needed because the state does not provide revenue to support and maintain technology in our schools. It is important to remember that these levies are not “add-ons” to existing levies. They would simply replace levies previously approved by the voters that are set to expire in 2014.
The outcome of the election will have a profound effect on the 6,300 students attending our schools, as these levies provide funding for additional teachers, specialists, and support staff beyond what is funded by the state. These levies also help pay for technology, teacher training, transportation, textbooks, utilities, maintenance and custodial services, school supplies, and after-school academic, athletic, arts, and activity programs for students.
Student achievement has been trending upward here in the Snoqualmie Valley School District in recent years, and our schools now rank among the finest in the entire state. Even so, we are committed to making them even better. As we continue the quest to make our schools the very best they can be, renewed support of these levies and the resources they provide is vitally important.
The quality of our schools is critical to the health, economy, reputation, and future of our community. Most importantly however, these propositions will sustain a significant portion of the funding necessary to ensure our students are fully prepared for college, careers, and citizenship. Please vote “yes” on these important levy propositions.
For more information on the levy propositions, visit the school district website at: www.svsd410.org or contact the Snoqualmie Valley School District at (425) 831-8000.
Joel Aune
Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent
