A top-notch school system is the backbone of any vibrant community. It is tough work for our administrator, staff, teachers and school board to make things work within the constraints of funding that is available. Periodic maintenance and operation levies bridge the gap between state and federal funding and the actual cost to run a school district.

The levy on the February ballot is not an increase in taxes for us and it will continue providing the same supplemental funding that we agreed to pay four years ago. Every school district in the state must rely on local citizens to contribute through periodic levies to provide sufficient funding for operations, transportation, maintenance and a few extra goodies that make local schools special.

The administrators, staff, teachers and school board of NKSD have been doing a good job of managing finances lately (much better than in the not-too-distant past). They have had to make some real painful decisions to keep the system afloat and I appreciate their efforts.

The funding collected from our local citizens through the levy makes up 23 percent of the money needed to operate our school system. To withhold that funding from our local schools would have dramatic and drastic consequences for our schools and ultimately the community in general.

I have not had kids in a North Kitsap school for more than 20 years, but I still believe that without a great school system, we have failed as a community. I support and endorse the NKSD levy that we will be voting on on Feb. 11.

Vote yes for kids!

Pete DeBoer
Kingston