Debate heats up over school levies with days left to vote | Opinion

Keep supporting Burbank schools

I would like to sincerely thank the Burbank community for their past support and ask for their continued endorsement by voting YES on the upcoming replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy as well as the Technology Levy. The benefits of having a technology levy in place since 1994 are evident in every classroom of our district.

Columbia School District has dedicated itself to leadership and implementation strategies as we strive to bring the most effective and relevant technology to our students and staff.

Our Technology Levy provides a vast array of essential learning opportunities for students from the elementary, middle and high schools.

This includes computer programming, multimedia classes and video editing, just to name a few. Multiple upgrades have been made in both infrastructure and safety in order to stay current with technology standards. We continue to look to the future with the goal of maintaining a one-to-one student to device program for all grade levels. Our highest priority will continue to be providing our students with the tools they need for future success.

We ask for your support. Please vote yes, twice, by Feb. 10 to continue our standard of educational excellence.

Andrew Kramer, Pasco

Howard a person of integrity

Diahann Howard is a person of high integrity, energy, leadership, and contribution.

I want to express my support for reaching a rapid resolution to the matter that has caused Diahann Howard’s temporary suspension with pay.

I have had many meetings with Diahann over the past several years. She is a valuable resource to our community especially because of her leadership and integrity.

We need a rapid resolution and to get her back into her full-time role building our regional economy.

Commissioners, please don’t kill the messenger. Get her back to work for the good of our community. We need people like Diahann.

Dennis Walters, Chief of Staff, STARS Technology, Richland

RSD good with school finances

During my service on the Richland school board in 2023, I got an in-depth look at RSD’s budget. Richland and West Richland voters can be proud of our tax dollars’ effects in our community.

The current board has trimmed administrators, cut expenses and put its budget back on track. We are getting value for our money with staff and programs that build our students and community’s wellbeing.

Per the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s report card, RSD has grown in many important areas and continues to top our three local districts’ performance while maintaining equivalent or lower per-pupil expenditures. For example, graduation rates in 2024-25 exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Regular attendance has increased, particularly for students who are low-income, with disabilities, and boys.

Investments in early learning are also paying off, with 2025 showing the highest-ever levels of students fully prepared for kindergarten. There is still more to do, and continued levy funding will not let this progress go to waste.

Renewed levies will help us attract the best superintendent candidates by showing that our community does its part to support student achievement and preserve the teachers, paras and coaches who make a difference for our kids.

Please join me in voting Yes for school levies.

Lindsay Lightner, Richland

Richland: Revise roundabouts plan

The city needs to rethink its design on the roundabouts. The ones there have now are not safe.

If you drive down Thayer, you will see cars and pickup trucks that can hardly get around. Then watch the school buses, Ben Franklin buses (that) can’t get around them. So they drive over them. So do delivery trucks. You see people in the buses bouncing. Every day, there are the reflective delineators lying in the street that have been run over. How much do they cost? They need to make them the proper size for all vehicles.

Marvin E. Raymond, Richland

Vote no on Richland school levy taxes

We are getting taxed to death from the school district. They need to do a better job with what they have. The taxes are 2/3 of most homeowners’ property taxes. People that are on fixed incomes are getting taxed way too much. They need to change the process on taxing. Please vote no. Let the schools do a better job handling there budgets instead of wanting more and more taxes on our property.

Marvin E. Raymond Jr., Richland

Levy helps keep jobs in our KSD

Twenty-five years ago, our family chose to move to Kennewick due to good jobs and great schools. Since then, I have been privileged to teach and retire from Kennewick School District as well as watch my three children graduate and become successful adults. Education is more than teaching a student to read, write, and do math. It provides students with life-long learning opportunities and experiences to become productive and contributing adults.

This levy is for the success of our students and our community. Kennewick School District is asking voters to vote yes to extend the levy to help provide that education to future generations. This is not a new tax, it is an extension of our community funding — the portion of education that our state does not provide. A yes vote is a vote ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed in their futures.

Leanna K Mastaler, Kennewick