Highline Public Schools will place a four-year educational programs and operations renewal levy on the February 13 ballot. The proposed levy is not a new tax. It replaces a levy that expires at the end of 2018. The renewal levy will cost taxpayers less than the current levy.
For example, Highline uses levy funds to pay for more teachers than the state funds, allowing Highline schools to maintain smaller class sizes.
State funding does not pay the full cost of special education, school nurses, school security, transportation, extra help for struggling students, and teacher training days.
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The state funds:
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Highline provides:
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Why it is important:
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Teachers
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903*
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940* |
Additional teachers mean smaller class sizes.
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Safety & security officers
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3.5*
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14* |
Necessary for student and staff safety |
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School nurses (RN)
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15* nurses for 32 schools |
1,932 Highline students have life-threatening conditions |
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Camp Waskowitz outdoor learning experience
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$0 |
$2.1 million |
Includes week-long sixth grade camp and outdoor education for other grades.
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Classroom instructional assistants
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34* |
87* |
Assistants provide individual and small group instruction.
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Special Education
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$23 million |
$27 million |
All students have a federal protected right to an education |
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Counselors & school social workers
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38* counselors
1 social worker
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47* counselors
8 social workers
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Research shows students learn best when their social and emotional needs are addressed.
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Athletics programs
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$0 |
$2.3 million |
Students have the opportunity to participate in school sports |
If approved by voters, the new levy rate is estimated to be $1.50 per $1,000 assessed home value, compared with $3.38 per $1,000 for the current levy.
Here is the maximum amount that could be collected for each year of the levy:
2019: $47,329,540
2020: $48,749,426
2021: $50,211,909
2022: $51,718,266
To pass, the levy must be approved by 50 percent of voters.
