Snohomish Schools levies fund paraeducators, more

Published 1:30 am Friday, February 4, 2022

The Snohomish School District has two critical replacement levies up for renewal on Feb. 8. The first levy funds over 50 jobs, all after school activities, and academic support for those who struggle as well as excel. The second replacement levy provides funding for maintenance on outdated buildings and portables, improvements in safety measures, and upgrades to technology that benefit our students.

As parents of a child with learning disabilities, we know firsthand how important the need is to fund the support staff in our schools. It takes a committed and compassionate group of paraeducators, nurses, psychologists and teachers to give our son the educational opportunity that is best for him. In particular, we heavily rely on the support of paraeducators. Not only do they support him in successfully integrating into the classroom, they have provided support to the teacher and other students in the class. A big virtual hug to Ms. Vickie at Totem Falls Elementary; a trusted and beloved paraeducator who helped our son in some especially difficult times.

All students will benefit from improvements and upgrades to existing security equipment, access to up-to-date technology, and maintenance of existing facilities. The majority of our elementary schools are aging, extensively utilize portable classrooms, and require continuous maintenance. It is critical to the safety and health of our students that these structures be adequately maintained and updated.

We are so grateful for the educational opportunities our children have received in the Snohomish School District. We urge our fellow district parents to vote yes to fund the two replacement levies by Feb. 8. Please visit YESSnohomish.org for more information.

Brent and Eve Rutherford

Snohomish