Help build, maintain strong school system

Voting on a school levy is one of the best examples of democracy in action.

Not only does it provide an opportunity to exercise one of our most basic rights – the right to vote – but it also provides an opportunity to fulfill one of our most basic responsibilities – the responsibility to help determine the role of education in our local community.

It is generally accepted that education is the key to establishing and maintaining the kind of society in which we live; and you, the patrons of West Valley School District, have repeatedly voted in favor of a strong educational program along with the facilities to deliver such a program.

Your determination to improve our facilities is evident through passage of the major bond issue that is currently rebuilding our high school and enlarging our elementary schools. At this time our greatest need is passage of the maintenance and operations levy, which will be presented again on May 16.

This is not a new or additional levy but is a replacement for the current levy that expires this year. The proposed levy will not mean a tax increase but, rather, an estimated 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed value “decrease” over the 2006 tax assessments. These dollars will continue to help pay for curricular and co-curricular programs including music, art, drama, advanced placement courses, athletics and intramurals. They will help pay for teachers and educational assistants, allowing for reduced class sizes. They also will help pay for counselors and counseling assistants.

They allow the district to bus a high percentage of our students, keeping them safe despite the many major intersections and railroad crossings throughout the district.

It is the prime responsibility of the state Legislature to fund public schools, which they do at about the 80 percent level. This leaves the remaining 20 percent to be raised at the local school district level. This 20 percent is what is covered by the proposed levy.

If we were to lose 20 percent of our household budgets, we certainly would have to make some drastic cuts; and undoubtedly those cuts would seriously affect the welfare of our families – just as loss of our current school levy would affect the education and welfare of our children and our community at large.

As you vote on the maintenance and operations levy, keep in mind that this is not “the” school district but rather “our” school district – a significant part of our lives, a major contributor to our community.

Please exercise your right to vote and carry out your responsibility to help build and maintain a strong West Valley school system.