Seattle School Levies Vote Coming Soon

Update:

From an editorial in this morning's Times on school funding:

But here’s the rub: The McCleary school funding plan of 2017 capped the amount schools are allowed to request of their home communities in levies. Lawmakers instituted this rule in the name of fairness, to ensure that fundraising in wealthier areas, like Seattle, did not soar beyond that of less affluent regions.

As a result, however, districts are hamstrung. Seattle, for example, is asking voters to pass two levies at rates well beyond what the state allows, banking on the Legislature to change school funding laws.

I had not heard that SPS was asking for more in their levies than they legally can. That's some nerve. So now they not only have to pass their levies, they also have to cross their fingers that the Legislature comes through.

end of update

 

As I usually endorse, I say vote YES on the Operations levy and NO on the BEX levy. 

The Operations levy is absolutely crucial to the running of Seattle Schools. 

The BEX levy is not. 

Yes, I know nearly the entire budget of the Technology department is in there but if SPS is foolish enough to stick an entire department's budget in a levy, that's on them. 

I often get asked, "What happens if the levies fail?" Well, the first thing that would happen is an emergency meeting at JSCEE to reschedule it and then the brain trust there will have to figure out different messaging OR actually listen to what voters said made them unhappy. And then fix that. 

To have a mystery project on the BEX levy is wrong. I'm sure most voters know that voting for a levy is just voting for a pot of money for SPS. Technically, the district could use the money for any capital item they wanted. Naturally, if you advertise you are going to do X,Y, and Z, you probably should do them. But SPS does not have to do so.

Plus, SPS constantly shifts money around from BEX and BTA and as well, they STILL have funds from BEX III, IV, and V. They never truly use all the money voted in - not when they can make money off the interest. 

I also note that the levy support group, Schools First, has run a strangely quiet campaign. Maybe with the amount of difficulties that this district faces, maybe they thought it better to not push too hard. The Schools First website has no endorsement section. It appears they had a fancy fundraiser last Thursday with up to $10K sponsorships. 

I can't find an endorsement from Mayor Harrell. Of course, that may be that he has other things on his mind like the City's levy, for social housing development.

SPS has generally had the only levies on the February ballot. How this may in factor in the voting - with with both the City and the district having their hands out to voters - is anyone's guess.

As I have also said, I think this district - and now this Board as well - needs a large splash in the face of the ice-cold water of reality. Failing the BEX levy would do that.