Citizens are reluctant to dig deeper
Published on Wed, Sep 8, 2010 by Beckye RandallRead More Voices
When the state legislature raised the levy limits for Washington school districts, leaders here in Marysville weren't all that excited.
"Raising the levy lid only creates more inequity for poorer school districts," explained Marysville superintendent Larry Nyland. "Residents in some areas can and will pay more for schools, but many families just don't have the resources."
Nevertheless, with the state's funding cut-again--for basic education, the district floated the balloon, asking voters to approve a four percent supplemental levy that would have cost homeowners about 20 cents more per $1,000 assessed value.
You know the result. Not only no, but hell no. More than 60 percent of voters in the August primary turned down the measure.
The budget for the coming year didn't count on that extra money, said Jim Baker, the district's finance director. That's a good thing.
People I've talked to around town are frustrated by some of the district's recent problems, like the very public controversy over board member Michael Kundu's racially-charged remarks and the "failed school" labels that were slapped on Totem Middle School and Tulalip Elementary.
And despite the excitement of a new high school, many locals still aren't sold on the idea of Smaller Learning Communities (SLCs), claiming they cost more money and offer fewer choices for students.
Mostly, though, I think folks are just feeling beat down by the continued dismal economic outlook. As the summer has begun to turn to fall without the predicted upticks in the economy, optimism is more and more difficult to find. Those who had a financial cushion when all this began two years ago have exhausted their reserves, and many who were already living on the edge have fallen over it.
Until the economy begins to improve, the budget problems that plague our schools are not likely to be resolved by asking homeowners to shoulder more of the burden.
Assuring access to an education for every child is the state's "paramount duty." Legislators need to stop trying to shift the responsibility back to local neighborhoods, and find a way to fully fund basic education.
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"Raising the levy lid only creates more inequity for poorer school districts," explained Marysville superintendent Larry Nyland. "Residents in some areas can and will pay more for schools, but many families just don't have the resources."
Nevertheless, with the state's funding cut-again--for basic education, the district floated the balloon, asking voters to approve a four percent supplemental levy that would have cost homeowners about 20 cents more per $1,000 assessed value.
You know the result. Not only no, but hell no. More than 60 percent of voters in the August primary turned down the measure.
The budget for the coming year didn't count on that extra money, said Jim Baker, the district's finance director. That's a good thing.
People I've talked to around town are frustrated by some of the district's recent problems, like the very public controversy over board member Michael Kundu's racially-charged remarks and the "failed school" labels that were slapped on Totem Middle School and Tulalip Elementary.
And despite the excitement of a new high school, many locals still aren't sold on the idea of Smaller Learning Communities (SLCs), claiming they cost more money and offer fewer choices for students.
Mostly, though, I think folks are just feeling beat down by the continued dismal economic outlook. As the summer has begun to turn to fall without the predicted upticks in the economy, optimism is more and more difficult to find. Those who had a financial cushion when all this began two years ago have exhausted their reserves, and many who were already living on the edge have fallen over it.
Until the economy begins to improve, the budget problems that plague our schools are not likely to be resolved by asking homeowners to shoulder more of the burden.
Assuring access to an education for every child is the state's "paramount duty." Legislators need to stop trying to shift the responsibility back to local neighborhoods, and find a way to fully fund basic education.
??
??
??
??
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