I am first a parent of two students who have very successfully navigated their way through the Arlington school system and benefited tremendously from their experiences.
I have also had the dubious honor of leading the last Arlington School District levy, which did not pass the first round by something like a half of a percentage point (about 59.5 percent). The district was then tasked with identifying the teachers and other staff it would lay off. What is astounding to me is that by most other election standards, our loss at the polls would have been a landslide victory. You can build a prison or a stadium by a simple majority, but the bar is raised for our public schools. It simply doesn’t make sense to me.
We all have an opportunity to change this on Nov. 6 when the constitutional amendment known as EHJR 4204 goes to the voters. I encourage all of you to vote to approve 4204, which would allow school levies to be approved by simple majority.
John Burkholder
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