Editorial: Local Pride Requires Local Support of Schools

— by Margie Doyle —

The Chamber of Commerce got it right when it honored three local businessmen with the Community Service Award for 2017. Tony Ghazel, Scott Lancaster and Chris Sutton all have island “day jobs” that demand their time, energy and revenues. Yet they consistently step up to the plate to give their services to our tax-supported public school kids as members of the Orcas Island School District Board of Directors.

That doesn’t mean just attending a meeting once a month — it means shepherding the policies that provide for the both the buildings and the programs that we entrust our greatest and dearest “investments” — our children — to. Over the years, they have vetted and discussed taxing proposals and listened to community input on crafting those bond and levy requests. They take seriously their commitment to the community and to the school children to steward our resources in the best possible ways.

While many in 2012 held high hopes that the State Legislature might “amply fund” basic public education with the State Supreme Court’s ruling on the McCleary decision, it has become sadly apparent that the measures passed by the state legislature this year take away as much if not more with one hand as they give with another: orcasissues.com/McCleary

So yes, while we property owners will see an increase in property taxes, our public school districts will see a decrease in the funds allocated school districts in local school maintenance and operations levies, as Orcas School Business Manager Keith Whitaker noted recently: “Those decreases, over which our community has no control, have the potential to significantly impact our school programs, if we do not prepare proactively.”

Our local community, most notably recent school boards and the Orcas Island Educational Foundation, the Music Advocacy Group, the Orcas Island Community Foundation and Orcas Boosters Club, have raised significant funding so that our kids may shine in debate, soccer, track, music, engineering and community service.

And recent McCleary-related legislation has made clear that our local community must continue to “put their treasure where their heart is” if our school buildings and programs are to continue in preparing our kids for colleges and careers, families and citizenship.

That is why Orcas Issues is urging its readers to vote “yes” on both the school bond and the school levy; to support OUR school. As Whitaker explained, “The two school measures – a construction bond and a Capital Projects levy – are estimated to add 29 cents and 11 cents, respectively, a total of 40 cents per thousand. This brings the total of the state and local increase to 98 cents, or about $440 per year in new taxes on a property valued at $450,000 – approximately $36.75 per month.

“The school measures by themselves add $15/month or $180 per year in new taxes.”

Orcas Island School District administration and boards have worked beyond diligently to build our fund balance the last 10 years, even as they’ve completed (and continue to work on) building maintenance, upgrade and remodel projects that, yes, we taxpayers have funded. That’s good stewardship that the Chamber of Commerce was right to acknowledge; and it is funding that will be sorely needed as the school board and administration work mightily to comply with new McCleary-born regulations and algorithms.

Let’s support that pride and accomplishment with the additional funding asked for in the bond and levy measures. In our house, we follow through, even if those who “should” carry the burden fail us.