Our articles about school levies sometimes generates comments. Today we share the comments of a person that some may find useful. If you have comments (Pro or Con) about levies we’ll add them to this article thread. You can use the comment submission process here or you can email us at swweducation dot gmail dot com. The comments have no reference to to the writer.
Comment:
Thank you to whomever for compiling this useful information. I am concerned that people don’t have a place to go to get more information before they vote to spent several hundred or thousands of dollars a year on these levy’s. People need to do their own assessment of the cost of these levies. The numbers in the recent brochure are very confusing. Frankly, I can’t believe educators wrote this.
I wonder why the school board lumps everything together in these levy’s. By that I mean, why not separate out the funding for academic things such as education vs funding for extra curricular activities? If people are struggling to pay their bills, is it fair to ask them to pay for extra curricular activities for peoples’ children? Why are tax payers even expected to pay for after school activities, summer school, free lunches, etc?? I am so sorry but where is the data to show that sports , clubs, drama, 155!! coaches and club advisors are raising kids test scores and helping kids get academically prepared for college? This is a huge budget for these activities that not ever student is even involved in. Maybe parents can pay for these activities themselves rather than expect older people struggling on a fixed income.
IMO, I feel the focus of these levies needs to be on education not extra curricular activities. Test scores are not good. Why is this and why isn’t there a lot more discussion and focus on this?? I would also like to see stats on the number of kids who feel prepared to go to college at graduation and how many get accepted. Why are so may kids leaving Washougal schools? Where are they going and why? Are they going to private schools, being home schooled?
More importantly, are teachers being held accountable for educating students? If so, how? I did not fact check this but according to some national statistics Washington State teachers are among the top 5 states with the highest salaries-average of 69,000. a year. Try finding a job that you work 9 months, get 2-3 months off, make 69,000, plus very generous health and retirement benefits. Teachers now want more teachers and smaller classes when there are 170 less students? Why? What is the average size class in other similar schools and what are their test scores? What is the actual data around this ‘want’. If there is an actual need based on hard data then that, and their accountability, in my opinion, is better use of my money.
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