Centralia Superintendent Mark Davalos talks to the board about his goals while school board member Jami Lund and Colleen Miller with the Washington State School Directors Association listen in this January 2017 Chronicle file photo.
The Centralia School District Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday to place a two-year replacement educational programs and operations levy on the Feb. 13, 2018, ballot.
The levy will provide funding of up to $3.3 million in the first year and $3.5 million in the second year for programs that are enhancements to what Washington state defines as basic education, according to a press release from the district.
Levy tax collections will be capped at $1.50 per $1,000 in assessed value, a reduction from the current levy, which expires in 2018.
“We have significantly reduced the amount of our levy in response to new state mandates on school funding,” Superintendent Mark Davalos said in the release. “The state has placed a cap of $1.50 per thousand on assessed value of local levies. This has caused us to lower the amount sought in our replacement levy.”
The expiring levy provides the district with $5.625 million a year.
In its release, the district stated local levies are crucial for school funding. They provide resources for services and programs the community expects schools to provide.
“Unfortunately, state funding does not cover the costs of programs deemed to be outside of the scope of basic education,” Davalos said.
“Local levies also help our community retain local control over the programs we offer. It’s important to remember that we are asking voters to replace the current levy, not to approve a new tax.”
Levy funds can be used for education enhancements like special education, athletics, student transportation, activities, robotics programs, technology enhancement, additional teaching support staff and more.
The expiring levy was in place for four years. Davalos said the district decided to run a shorter levy this time because of the uncertainty present in how the state will proceed with levy regulation in the coming legislative session.
He also stated that historic support for the district’s levies has “been outstanding.”
“It’s a great testament to the value our community places on education,” Davalos said. “I’m looking forward to meeting with our community over the next several months to talk about how valuable our levy is to Centralia’s students.”
Voters approved a $74 bond for the construction of two new elementary schools in the Centralia School District last February.
That money is required to go toward construction and cannot be used for programs and operations covered by the levy.
