On Feb. 6, Seattle voters will be asked to vote for or against two levies brought forth by the Seattle Public Schools. One of the levies is for the operating fund and one is for capital improvements.

The operating levy represents about 23 percent of the operating budget of the district. It is a key component to the normal operations of the schools. The last time this levy failed was in 1975 and it took the district years to recover. Our schools need more support, not less, and this levy is crucial to the continued operations of our schools.

The capital levy (it really is a bond) is a continuation of a capital program started back in 1995 when John Stanford was our superintendent. At that time, we embarked upon a program to rebuild many of Seattle's oldest schools. The rebuild of Ballard High School was part of the first capital levy we passed. The last levy financed the rebuild of Roosevelt, Garfield and Cleveland. This new levy will continue the progress with several schools receiving upgrades that are desperately needed. When the first levy was passed, the average age of a Seattle school was 54 years. That has not materially changed, because years continue to go by and we have 97 schools, but some of our oldest schools are now becoming our newest schools and they are reigniting neighborhoods.

I know some of you may not want to support the levies because of the problems with the district leadership, particularly the board. I have been a very outspoken critic of that group and will continue to be. However, the way to fix that problem is not to vote down a levy, but rather to elect new board members who have the competency to manage a complex institution like a school system. Four of them come up for re-election in November and that is when you should let your concerns be voiced.

It is also important to note, that these two levies are not adding new taxes, but rather retaining existing taxes that already support schools. Supporting these two requests will not increase your taxes.

These two levies will support our children, improve our schools and, thereby, improve our city. I urge you to cast your vote in favor of both.

Don Nielsen

former president

Seattle School Board