Levy Failure Would Adversely Impact Quality Of Education And Community
I am writing today to urge readers to vote “YES” on the Deer Park Schools Replacement Levy.
I am a concerned parent, community member and an advocate of improving our schools. We have been impressed with the learning environments to which our children have been exposed and the educational opportunities available to them. This is a community that is able to offer a wide variety of athletic, extracurricular, fine art opportunities and elective classes at all grade levels and still provide a small town feel. Without this replacement levy, it is a strong possibility that there will be no sports, no drama and no band. It is also likely that it will be difficult for Deer Park Schools to provide the classes needed for our students to compete and be accepted into a four-year college. This is our children’s future.
It is important for the strength and vitality of our community that we support our school district by voting “YES” on this replacement levy. All of us will suffer if this levy doesn’t pass. Many families who have the ability to move their children to districts that have more opportunities will move, meaning that there will be fewer people going to the grocery store, the gas station, the golf course and restaurants. Strong schools = Strong Businesses = Strong Communities.
From the YesDeerPark.com website:
• “The collection rate being asked for ($2.46) is more than reasonable and in fact it’s the second lowest rate amongst 12 area school districts. Only Medical Lake’s rate is lower than Deer Park’s and that’s simply because they receive Federal Impact dollars for being a ‘base school’ (that is, they serve military families stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base).”
• “As the school district has seen state funding dry up in the past four years, the local levy — once thought of as supplemental — has become increasingly important for core services. Deer Park uses levy funds for items such as routine maintenance, all-day kindergarten, sports and other extracurricular programs, technology staff and equipment, as well as a source to help pay for vital certificated, classified, and administrative staff positions not funded by the State.”
I am so proud that my children go to Deer Park Schools and I am convinced they are receiving a quality education. I fear that a failure to renew the levy will have far reaching adverse effects on the quality of the education provided in Deer Park and, as a result, a decline in our property values relative to homes in other districts.
It is important that we pull together this time and remember to vote “YES.” It means the world to our children and our community. Please support our schools on April 17th. A quality education is a gift that will last a lifetime. Every child in Deer Park deserves the very best Preschool through 12th grade experience that they can get! Please make an investment in our students!
Pamela White
Deer Park