“Successfully Preparing All Students for Their Futures” is what the Kent School District does, every day.  The community role in that effort is to support preparing the future of our children by providing the resources necessary to achieve the goal daily.

An important way to do that is immediately before each one of us and is easy.  Vote Yes on the Kent School District Educational Programs and Operations Levy renewal on the February 8^th ballot.

By voting Yes, you are supporting the high-quality instruction and capacity to provide that instruction from the KSD teaching staff; support from quality nurse and classified staff; arts, culture, athletics and a host of other extra-curricular experiences that enrich our children’s lives and all our lives.

The Educational Programs and Operations Levy is a “straight” renewal of the expiring levy and comprises 16% of KSD operations not provided by state and federal funds. It requires no more of us than a Yes vote on our returned ballots. “Successfully Preparing All Students for Their Futures” is not KSD’s goal alone.  It is the goal for all of us who call KSD’s service area, our home.   Vote and vote Yes!

Submitted by: Michael Heinisch, Brooke Valentine, Satwinder Kaur, mikehkentyfs@gmail.com

In 2018, the McCleary Decision was promised to be a levy swap. Instead, state school property taxes increased dramatically and local school taxes never went away and are again spiraling out of control.

For 2020-2021, for the district's administrators, the median total compensation was $178,407 with a high of $399,158. Median teacher compensation is at $123,801 up 37% in the last 3 years - multiple times inflation.

The argument that this levy is for a certain few duty types is disingenuous and heartless at best. The district complains that this levy fills the gap left from state legislators. The legislators are correct in saying no to the district. Local voters should do the same.

Nearly all districts try to just focus on how our property tax rates will remain nearly flat as if that has or will do us any favors. A flat tax rate multiplied by skyrocketing assessed property values equals skyrocketing taxes in dollars (paid for by property owners and renters in their rents). Please provide your input and vote. More details at, www.schooldataproject.com

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

The Legislature, Executive and Judicial Branches of Washington have consistently recognized local voters have a role in deciding the resources we, locally, desire to provide within legislative limits, in order to Successfully Prepare our students for their future.  This Levy supports our children for their future and supports the very future of the community we call home, the Kent School District. A successful future for our community is as simple as a yes vote.  http://citizensforkentschools.org/

Submitted by: Michael Heinisch, Brooke Valentine, Satwinder Kaur, mikehkentyfs@gmail.com

In 2019-2020, per pupil expenditures (including capital outlays and interest on debt) for the district were already at $15,720. That's above tuition and books at many universities let alone most private K-12 schools.

In 2018, because of the McCleary Decision, state legislators pumped billions more dollars into our public schools, largely from increased property taxes. There is no amount of money monopoly school districts will be satisfied with. Citizens are crying uncle. Enough!

Submitted by: Jeff Heckathorn, info@schooldataproject.com

Download the full text of the resolution 

Simple majority (Wash. Const. art. VII, sec. 2(a))

For questions about this measure, contact: Israel Vela, Interim Superintendent,  (253) 373-7701, israel.vela@kent.k12.wa.us