Letter to the Editor: School levies help fill gaps created by insufficient state and federal funding
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
.jpg)
What we do know is that utilities and insurance costs have skyrocketed, and while legally required to operate a school, they are severely underfunded.
Funding shortfalls are a statewide issue. When basic requirements are combined with special education and transportation needs, the funding shortfall for SSD is $10 million. Like families, school districts have bills to pay and operational costs to cover, which is why levy dollars are heavily relied upon. They can help cover these basic funding needs and help fill gaps created by insufficient state and federal funding.
There is significant evidence that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, students need more, not less, access to qualified school staff; yet, staffing is the last area available for reduction within the SSD budget.
To achieve high educational standards and ensure that every child has access to safe, well-equipped classrooms and qualified teachers and staff, we must make significant funding investments in our schools. If you also believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity for a quality education, then vote YES for SSD No. 412 Proposition No. 1 by August 5th!
Michelle Harris
There is significant evidence that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, students need more, not less, access to qualified school staff; yet, staffing is the last area available for reduction within the SSD budget.
For those dissatisfied with their public school experience, it is woefully misguided to believe that less money for adequate staffing and resources is the answer. Exploring alternative options may work for some, but not everyone in our community has the privilege or means to homeschool or pay for private education. Additionally, private schools are not legally required to meet the individual education needs of all students.
To achieve high educational standards and ensure that every child has access to safe, well-equipped classrooms and qualified teachers and staff, we must make significant funding investments in our schools. If you also believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity for a quality education, then vote YES for SSD No. 412 Proposition No. 1 by August 5th!
Michelle Harris
Shoreline
Posts
8 comments:
No thank you, the evidence is clear, throwing more money at our failing schools will not solve the problem as this is what we have been doing and it is obviously not working. About the only thing true in the letter to the editor is that utilitiies and insurance costs have increased. Wasn't Shoreline district looking to close a school to save money and respond in a rational way to declining enrollment? Why does the letter to the editor not even acknowledge that cost cutting is a possibilty? Please vote no as a way to force the district to look at cutting costs as they were already doing. A good definition of insanity is indeed doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Voting no will force the district to try something new by responding to declining enrollement by reducing expenses , not increasing !
Agree. Those who advocate against school levies should please lobby their legislators and the governor to adequately fund the schools. Massachusetts invests heavily in education, and boasts some of the highest graduation rates.
I would encourage comment posters to share their evidence as this article has done with links. A school wasn’t closed because enrollment is projected to increase in the Highland Terrace area due to new constructions. Yes funding is based on enrollment but funding formulas are outdated and need to be addressed to meet the needs because statewide districts with stable or rising enrollment t are still hurting. SSD and PTA continue to advocate at state and federal levels but we need more constituents to do the same and now that session is over our only option to avoid drastic cuts for 2026 and beyond is levy money. I hope you both regardless of your vote advocate for more state funding in January 2026 but decisions for next school year need to be made before then.
"Trying something new" = slashing staff. Talk about insanity. And how would you go about reducing the mandatory utility and insurance expenses? Maybe no heat in the winter? Kids can just wear their coats and gloves indoors, right?
Maybe the high taxes are the cause of Massachusetts loss of their 26-34 yr olds to lower tax states? Washington State is in debt. The yrs of flocking to Greater Seattle has slowed way down and the biggest reason given is the cost of living is too high in this area. We need to factor in reality and then make a business decision. The tooth fairy doesn't pay the freight taxpayers do and if we need to close some schools then do it.
Persistent learning disruptions caused by disregulated students is a major factor in the drop in enrollment. How is this being addressed?
No thanks. I pay enough in taxes. My kid goes to a private school. No more taxes. Use what you have better.
Actually, enrollment is rising and is projected to further rise, which helps a little bit with enrollment dollars, and justifies the need to keep schools open for now. Cost savings for shutting down a school, moving families, and special education programs and trained teachers, bussing kids wouldn’t have justified the closure, especially as our community keeps growing. Communities like Shoreline have a great school reputation because families have historically cared about and invested in the schools here. The problem is that government funding is not happening at the rate needed or promised across the board and state-wide. Advocates on this topic were urging the communities all over WA to show up in Capitol Hill and to respond to calls to action and we simply needed more widespread support and lobbying when it mattered most. So anyone who doesn’t want levies should have been supporting those initiatives to avoid it. Now is the time for our community to take matters into our own hands by contributing where possible and this is one way we can help. We are HAPPY to support this initiative and feel strongly about continuing advocacy efforts to improve funding on the state level. The district is already making heavy financial slashes and consolidating as much as possible otherwise and is VERY transparent about the financial needs and situation. I urge you to learn more about ALL the things they are doing before commenting against this much needed levy.
Post a Comment