— from the Orcas Island School District Board —
(Editor’s note: Due to recent internet connectivity issues, we didn’t receive this message, sent Feb. 22, 2016 by Chair Tony Ghazel of the School District Board. Our apologies for this late notice to the school board and to our readers.)
We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the voters of Orcas Island for your support of our school levy. The renewal of the Maintenance and Operational Levy will ensure essential funding source for another four years.
As the state legislature struggles to implement ample funding for education, Orcas and most other districts rely on their voters for additional funding. We, here on Orcas and Waldron, are fortunate to have such a supportive community. Our desire to provide the best chance for educational success to our children is what compels us to ask you, our neighbors, for your generous support.
We will be careful stewards of your generosity and will continue the work to insure that our children receive the best educational and extracurricular opportunities. You have come to expect excellence in our schools and this levy will help immensely.
We recognize that our local community supports students not only with the passage of this levy but also with parental involvement, volunteerism, and community attendance at sporting events, concerts and other student activities. We are humbled by the support we receive from you year after year and are honored to serve these children and this community as your School Board Directors.
Tony P Ghazel, Chair
Chris Sutton, Vice Chair
Janet Brownell
Scott Lancaster
Greg White
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Tony…you write:
“We will be careful stewards of your generosity and will continue the work to insure that our children receive the best educational and extracurricular opportunities. You have come to expect excellence in our schools and this levy will help immensely.”
Once again I note that in thanking the voters for passage of a new Maintenance & Operations Levy, the Board alludes to the “educational and extracurricular opportunities” which this Levy affords our community’s children.
What’s missing for me is some assurance from the Board that an adequate portion of the Levy is reserved for and spent on maintenance of the wonderful new capital facilities which the community has funded…let’s not forget that our children suffered through winters w/ no heat in their classrooms, due in no small measure by inadequate budgeting for essential maintenance.
Dear Fred,
Sorry that I haven’t been able to get back to you earlier. Thank you for sharing your concerns. I have worked with this current board for many years and yes, definitely, we all share the commitment to making sure that these capital assets will be well maintained in order to serve our children for many generations.
We are and will be providing excellent educational and extracurricular opportunities in healthy, safe and WELL MAINTAINED buildings.