Letter: Vote yes on Pasco school levy
Who will be there for our 17,000-plus Pasco School District students if the regularly scheduled maintenance and operation levy fails? A financial loss of about $45 million collected locally over two years and approximately $30 million from state matching funds. 65 percent of levy dollars fund teaching and learning, 27 percent fund maintenance and operation and 8 percent fund extracurricular activities. This levy is neither a new tax nor a tax increase!
How would a failed levy affect our students’ education and the hundreds of our valuable employees’ employment status?
Who will be there to help students plan their future or in a medical emergency? Counselors and nurses are paid by levy dollars.
Who will keep our students safe when attending school? Crosswalk and security guards, and bus drivers are paid by levy dollars.
Who will help students reach their academic goals or help students find their passion? Academic tutors, paraprofessionals, credit retrieval, intervention programs, music and club activities are all funded by levy dollars.
Who will be there for our students? You can be — by joining this parent, former PSD teacher and community volunteer in voting ‘YES’ on the replacement levy on Feb. 9.
Kim M. Lehrman, Pasco
This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Letter: Vote yes on Pasco school levy."