A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
Sept. 2, 2010 (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)
MESSAGES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
· Levy passes with 50.19% approval
· Why did the board put the Aug. 19 levy on the ballot?
· How will Aug. 17 levy funds be used? Is this additional money?
· What about federal money just authorized?
Election
results final;
supplemental levy passes with 50.19% approval
Last February, voters extended
their trust and confidence in us by saying “yes” at 64% to the district’s
four-year replacement Educational Programs and Operations levy.
Our legislature decided last winter to allow local school districts to ask voters once more to take on even more responsibility for local schools. This was a policy decision our school board opposed. We believe this ultimately will create wider funding disparity between school districts whose voters approve such measures and those whose voters do not. (Indeed, there are many districts that do not yet have levies as robust as the law permits.)
So,
why did the
board place the supplemental levy on the ballot?
Our board placed the issue on the
ballot to help offset future cuts and make up for state and federal shortfalls
in the future.
This district, like others in the state and nation, foresaw deep state budget shortfalls and the loss of federal stimulus dollars in the next year and a half. Everett Public Schools faced an estimated $5 million cut from our district budget for school year 2011-12.
This $5 million budget cut would have been on top of the $3.7 million cut for this school year, and the $9 million cut from the year before. Our school board, therefore, placed the legislatively authorized, temporary, supplemental levy on the ballot to safeguard resources needed to support the work you do in this district’s schools each day – not because they believe a supplemental levy is an equitable way for Washington state to meet its constitutional obligation to fully fund public schools.
How will
the levy funds
be used? Is this additional funding?
Funding from the
temporary, supplemental will be partially available in spring 2010‑11. We
plan to save these funds for 2011-12 budget, when we expect the next round of state cuts.
Our local levies will give the district a small financial cushion, and the
possibility of maintaining programs in existence now.
This supplemental levy is not expected to provide “extra” money or allow us to add programs or restore previous cuts. We may be able to avoid cutting as deeply next year as we have in the past or as we were expecting to.
Didn't the
federal
government approve money for schools recently?
Yes, the federal government authorized
some money to help backfill some deep cuts already made and other cuts we would
have faced when 2009 federal stimulus funding was discontinued.
Part of the big “unknown” for this district and every other school district in the country is the ultimate status of federal Medicaid and jobs funding authorized earlier this month by representatives in Washington, D.C. Each state’s legislature will now determine how the federal dollars will be used. Before and during this winter’s legislative session, Everett Public Schools will join others to advocate for the federal dollars to help keep our state’s K‑12 educational system stable.
Community’s levy support is key to providing what
is necessary for our success with students.
In my 30 years working in
Washington
state public schools, I’ve experienced many political and financial ups and
downs for schools. However, never have the stakes been so high. We are committed
in this district to helping EACH student learn to high standards, and we have
made great strides in that work. This week’s news about HSPE and MSP scores is
one of the many examples of your good work.
I speak often of “the next 20 percent” – or those students not yet at standard – representing the most challenging and among the most critical and important work we will do as educators. This work does not come easily nor does it come inexpensively. Our school board and your leadership team are committed to providing the tools and support you need to continue to be successful in improving student achievement.
These are challenging but professionally exciting times. I look forward to the opportunities these challenges present and to working with you as, together, we help today’s students become successful, responsible and contributing citizens of the 21st century.
KEY DATES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR – important dates and celebrations you won’t want to miss planning for now!
POLICY & PROCEDURE INFO – links to all policies and procedures are online
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are: Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4106; Title IX Officer, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4104; ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 202 Alder St., Everett, WA 98203, 425-385-5250; Section 504 Coordinator, Becky Ballbach, 4730 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98203, 425-385-4086. (Email address for each is FirstInitialLastName@everettsd.org)
Diane Bradford
Communications Dept.
Everett Public Schools
425-385-4040
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