By Phil Brockman, Ballard High School principal; Lyn Porterfield, Ballard High School parent and former PTSA president; Don Simpson, Ballard High School Foundation president; Larry Soriano, Ballard High School PTSA president

The Feb. 9 special election gives Seattle voters the opportunity to renew our commitment to schools and vote yes on the Operations and Capital Levies, Propositions 1 and 2, on your ballot.

Both renew existing levies that are set to expire – they are not new taxes.

Proposition 1, the Capital Levy, ensures all of our kids have safe and well-maintained learning environments.

Capital Levy funds pay for critical improvements, including roof repairs, seismic upgrades, fire suppression and updates to worn-out athletic fields.

It also supports improvements to heating and cooling systems and replacing water lines so our kids have clean air to breathe and water to drink.

In addition, funds from the Capital Levy support technology improvements to give students the learning tools they need, new green technologies for energy efficiency and skills centers that will pave the way for vocational careers ensuring our kids succeed right out of high school.

Proposition 2, the Operations Levy, is just as critical to student success. It funds 23 percent of the district’s day-to-day expenses and supports the basic education needs for all of our kids at every school in Seattle.

Proposition 2 helps to keep class sizes down by paying teacher salaries and supporting classroom aides and librarians in every elementary, middle and high school.

The levy also funds basic supplies like text books and other basic education materials our kids can’t do without.

Although times are tough all around right now, failure to pass these levies will only make them tougher.

A loss of almost one in every $4 of our schools operating budget and 100 percent of the funds needed for health and safety improvements would be devastating.

The cost of the levies, on the other hand, will remain at current levels so homeowners shouldn’t feel any change from previous years.

As our schools face certain budget cuts from Olympia, these levies are more important than ever.

Simply put, without your continued support it is unclear how we could sustain our schools.

Your vote to renew the levies will provide our kids with safe and healthy schools, keep teachers in the classroom and ensure Seattle’s children have access to the resources they need for a basic education.

Our Ballard community has a long history of amazing support for our schools. Please stand with Ballard students and vote to renew our commitment to Seattle’s public schools.