Port Angeles voters, our children and teachers need your support.
The Port Angeles School District has two measures on November’s ballot: a bond to renovate the high school and replace Franklin Elementary, both built in the 1950s, plus an educational programs and operation levy to support programs that the state does not fully fund, including sports, music, special education, transportation and more.
These two measures will not increase your taxes. They would replace two existing levies and maintain the school’s existing combined tax rate of $2.81 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
These measures also strike a good balance between people and buildings.
I attended a union-sponsored community forum following the paraeducators’ strike and some attendees thought the district was focusing too much on replacing buildings and not enough on supporting the people inside the buildings.
I was one of several speakers at the June 13 school board meeting.
The school board listened to our comments and was responsive, and the board voted to increase the proposed levy rate, the people, from $1.25 to $1.40 and reduce the proposed bond rate, the buildings, from $1.56 to $1.41.
If that’s not balance, I don’t know what is.
The levy and bond will work together to improve our schools and build a brighter future for Port Angeles, and we need them both.
These two measures will maintain our existing tax rates, provide funding for modern buildings, and support our students, teachers, paraeducators and staff.
Please join me in voting yes on both.
Steve Hawley
Port Angeles