I prefer the latter. Yes, we’re in a deep, dark recession. Property values have tanked. But, let’s not take it out on schools. We should expect quality public schools, not by divesting, but by investing dollars and time, and like any investment, monitoring performance. Not by testing kids to death, but by visiting schools, talking with teachers, working with kids at home, asking questions and demanding quality.
Retired or not, get involved. Spend a day or two at your local school. You’ll find most teachers and administrators work just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else trying to keep up with the swings of society. Sure the benefits are good. So are the responsibilities. Most people wouldn’t last longer than one day with 25 first graders tugging on their sleeves or dozens of teens with digital dreams trying to ignore them.
Invest in schools, vote “yes,” get involved and demand quality.
Rich Stever
Vancouver
Schools need levy funding
Tom Ramisch’s Jan. 28 letter, “Evergreen levy should be opposed,” mischaracterizes the levy taxation process. Tax rates go up when property values go down; total money collected remains roughly the same. That’s hardly jargon. And schools really do “live with less during this economy” already, because the state has sent less from the general fund. This year, for Evergreen Public Schools, about $11 million less. It would be just as incorrect to suppose that you’d actually see “more of your money.” A renter will continue to pay the same amount of rent, only instead of funding schools with part of the rent, the landlord will use that money. A homeowner, likewise, will find that the mortgage payment does not go down immediately; banks are certain to wait as long as legally possible, perhaps even up to a year, before they adjust escrow payment amounts. Voting “yes” on the levies ensures that money will continue to go to schools.
Rob Perkins
Vancouver
Special election has flaws
Evergreen Public Schools recently sent out a flier encouraging voters to “study the facts” about the replacement levy to be voted on Feb.9. How disingenuous can you get? By running this on a special election, they avoid any challengers via a voter’s handbook and avoid any dissenting voice. It is just plain dumb for anyone to vote affirmative in a special election on any issue.