Letters

Editor:

The current School Programs and Operations Levy, that was passed by the voters in 2006, authorized a levy to be collected for the four years ending in 2010.

The Replacement levy on the February 9, ballot is for the period 2011-2014. These local ballot measures have been allowed since our state's admission into the Union.

No promise was made in 2006 that this funding would not be required after 2010. On Feb. 9, there will be levy elections in 164 school districts around our state. 

The Edmonds School District (ESD) has demonstrated fiscal responsibility. In the school year 2009-10 revenues were projected to decline; Superintendent Nick Brossoit and his staff had to cut their budget by an unprecedented and painful $11.5 million. 

ESD employees are compensated at levels that are reasonable and competitive. The worsening financial situation caused the compensation for many of the staff to be reduced in 2009.  

Citizens who wish to keep current with what's going on at ESD should try to attend the Superintendent's Roundtables; they're held noon to 1 p.m., usually the first Wednesday of each month during the school year.

I've gotten my information by attending each of those meetings for the past four years. 

Many of us have not had children in schools for decades, but when we did we were not paying the full cost of their education.

Now it's payback time! Please vote YES for Edmonds School District Proposition No.1.

Ron Wambolt