Issaquah School Board members will add three levies to the February 2010 ballot, in an attempt to fund the provision of critical resources and repairs.
Members voted unanimously to include the levies at their board meeting on Feb. 25.
The levies include: a four-year maintenance and operations levy, a four-year critical repairs/technology levy and a one-year transportation levy. They also voted to consider the possibility of a 2012 bond.
Superintendent Steve Rasmussen emphasized the importance of the levies to keep schools up-to-date with the technology and resources that will prepare students to attend college and enter the job market.
“We want to make sure the kids at all the schools will get the same opportunities and experiences,” he said. “We see this as basic education … and want it to be consistent across all the schools.”
Work has already begun in soliciting schools to determine what their needs are, said Jacob Kuper, chief of finance and operations for the district.
District officials brought the recommendation to run a 2010 levy package and, if necessary, a 2012 bond issue to the board, based on the economic situation, and local and national unemployment rates, among other factors, Kuper said.
“I think all you need do is listen to the nightly news and economic reports, and I think … people understand why we’re recommending what we’re recommending,” said Ron Thiele, assistant superintendent. “This is not the climate to go out and do a bond. We have to recognize the reality of people’s situations and the situations of the time.”
Board members were careful to emphasize that they were only considering a 2012 bond — not approving one.
“We will look at what the future brings,” said board member Jan Woldseth. “It’s not a given that we’re going after the bond. We’re not making a commitment at this time.”
School board members also approved the formation of a school finance committee to develop the levy package.
School administration, district employees and four community-at-large members will make up the committee.
“We really recognized the importance of outreach to the community beyond just the school-based community,” Thiele said. “We absolutely want a broad-based representation. Not just from the school community, but the business community, the taxpayer community, so that we feel as best we can we’re hearing from the whole populace.”
The district has been reaching out to the community through press releases and e-news to solicit committee members, and is still looking.
The committee will begin meeting in April to discuss the district’s finances, and what the critical needs are.
The meetings will be open to the public, Thiele said, and will provide continued opportunities for people to give feedback.
The committee will then make a recommendation to the school board regarding the levy package, and the board will test the community’s approval of the recommendation before adopting it.
