These examples are in Northern WA State but are relevant.Yelm Community Schools has more than 3x the seniors over age 65 poverty compared to Bethel’s School District and 31% higher seniors over age 65 poverty compared to North Thurston. Yelm taxpayers have an elderly population that needs protection so they can stay in their homes.
According to this data, Yelm Community Schools had 92,014 less population, 15,106 less FTE students, and 390 less FTE teachers than Bethel School District. According to this data, Yelm Community Schools had 79,119 less population, 9,089 less FTE students, and 255 less FTE teachers than North Thurston School District.
Home values in Yelm Community Schools were $62,300 less than North Thurston and $55,000 less than Bethel.
Family household incomes in Bethel are on average $16,000 more per year.
Yet with all this data, Yelm Community Schools teachers on average make only $755 less per year than one of the largest school districts in the state of Washington with over 200 square miles – Bethel School District.Look at the reasons for an “Enrichment” Levy according to OSPI:
“Expressly permitted “enrichment” activities consist of:
–Extracurricular activities, extended school days and school year.
–Additional course offerings.
–Activities associated with early learning programs.
–Any additional salary costs attributable to enrichment activities.
–Additional activities or enhancements that OSPI determines to be a documented and demonstrated enrichment of basic education.”
It is very clear, the word “Enrichment” is not about basic education that every student and family should be entitled to within the Washington State Constitution and should be funded entirely by the State of Washington. Now known as “Enrichment Levy” formerly known as “Maintenance and operation (M&O) or Educational Programs and Operation (EPO)” was renamed by the Legislature in 2017 to “Enrichment.”
There is a “Levy Lid” as everyone keeps saying if absorbed by another district, the levy rate would be $3 per $1,000 or $4 per $1,000 per assessed property value.
According to OSPI, the rules are as follows:• Under EHB 2242 (2017), beginning with taxes levied for collection in 2019, the maximum EPO Levy was the lesser of:
– $2,500 per student (adjusted for inflation) or
– 1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
• Under ESSB 5313 (2019), beginning with taxes levied for collection in 2020, the maximum EPO levy is the lesser of:
– $2,500 per student (adjusted for inflation) for school districts with fewer than 40,000 FTE students or
– $3,000 per student (adjusted for inflation) for districts with 40,000 or more FTE students (i.e. Seattle Public Schools) or
– $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
• Inflationary adjustments (CPI for Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA):
– 2023 = 9.0%
– Fewer than 40,000 FTE students = $2,988.32
– Greater than 40,000 FTE students = $3,585.99
Multiple people have made comments- sort of pessimistic ultimatums including educators and administration within Yelm Community Schools- so let’s do some stats and side by sides of these 3 districts: Yelm, Bethel, and North Thurston. You decide what makes sense about funding, student enrollment, teacher salaries, and the overall statistics of each district.
Bethel School District’s current approved “Enrichment levy” on 4/26/22 is for $2.17 per $1,000 (lower than the max available per the “Levy Lid”) for 4 years, which will be set to expire in 2026. Bethel’s current approved “Technology Improvements Levy” on 4/26/22 is for $0.31 per $1,000, which is set to expire in 2026.– They had 20,800 FTE (full-time enrollment for students) for 2023-2024 school year, with 637 FTE (full-time teachers.)
Their average teacher salary was $98,776 in 2023- 2024.
According to https://censusreporter.org/…/97000US5300480-bethel…/– Bethel School District had a population of 126,677, and poverty was at 4% for their seniors over 65. 
– Their median household income was $109,619.
– Median home values were $483,700 when the data was posted in 2023.
North Thurston’s current approved “Enrichment levy” is for $2.50 per $1,000 (the max available per the “Levy lid”) for 4 years, which is set to expire in 2028. North Thurston’s current approved “Capital levy for Safety, Technology, and Facilities Improvements Levy” is for $0.77 per $1,000, which is set to expire in 2028.-They had 14,783 FTE (full-time enrollment for students) for 2023-2024 school year, with 502 FTE (full-time teachers.)
Their average teacher salary was $104,644 in 2023- 2024. According to https://censusreporter.org/…/97000US5305850-north…/North Thurston School District had a population of 113,782, and poverty was at 9% for their seniors over age 65.
Their median household income was $91,726.
Median home values there were $491,000 when the data was posted in 2023.
Yelm Community Schools had 5,694 FTE (full-time enrollment for students) for 2023-2024 school year, with 247 FTE (full-time teachers.) Their average teacher salary was $98,021 in 2023- 2024. According to https://censusreporter.org/…/97000US5310140-yelm…/– Yelm Community Schools had a population of 34,663 and poverty was at 13% for seniors over age 65.
– Their median household income was $93,595.
– Median home values were $428,700 when the data was posted in 2023.
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