“Finally.”
Edmonds School District spokeswoman Debbie Jakala’s summation of her feelings after hearing that a critical school levy passed, receiving just 0.4 percent more than necessary, could stand for a majority of voters and public education supporters.
The good news is that the slim margin of victory won’t diminish the help district students will get from the $44 million to be raised by the levy.
The children will still get upgraded computer technology, science labs, safer buildings and improved fields and playgrounds. Planning will go ahead on replacing the literally crumbling Lynwoood High School and building a new home for Scriber Lake High School.
This money isn’t lily gilding. Even with the levy, Edmonds School District will still be spending far less on technology for each student than some neighboring districts . District voters had set an admirable track record of support for schools, keeping the buildings and programs among the best in the state. But this was the third time around for this levy, albeit in scaled-down form.
Voters actually approved the previous measures at levels that might be considered a landslide in a presidential election. But state law says that while 56 percent is OK to pick the leader of the free world, it isn’t good enough for our children; those measures need 60 percent to pass.
That the latest measure passed is a step in the right direction. It is an acknowledgement that adequately funded public schools are the backbone of a free and educated society.
The next step is up to lawmakers in Olympia in January. They must remove this unreasonable hurdle in front of funding for public schools, finally.
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