Well-educated students today are the leaders of tomorrow. No matter how simple and irrefutable the statement is, there are people out there who don’t feel it is their responsibility to support such expensive matters.
These folks, many of whom likely complain about the “sorry state” of our nation between rants about their high property taxes, are part of the problem. Part of the solution can get started when the rest of us support House Joint Resolution 4204.
The resolution would eliminate school district’s needing to get a supermajority in order to pass much-needed levies. In a nutshell under the existing laws, 59.9 percent of the voters could back said levies — supporting not only students today but those for years to come — and the proposal can fail. It’s not unheard of, but it is downright un-Democratic.
With just 40 percent of voters having the ability to make the decision for the majority on issues as important as education, something is definitely out of whack. House Joint Resolution 4204 rectifies this. Oddly enough, the primary thing driving folks against 4204 is financial “reasoning.”
Finances. Quality of life. The environment. Political decisions. And everything else — everything — will be in the hands of our children one day. When one takes that into account, it’s pretty tough to make a sound argument against giving them any and every opportunity to succeed in school.
Such arguments are even more difficult here in the North Kitsap School District, where levies are viewed as a last resort while teachers, staff and students make do with what they have for as long as they can. The financial responsibility shown in this district alone should be reason enough to pass the resolution.
If it isn’t, then maybe those on the fence or digging in against the eradication of the supermajority for school districts might want to consider what’s at stake.
Not just the future of millions of children — as if that isn’t reason enough — but the future of the county, state and country depend on a well-educated populous. Making it more difficult to pass levies makes it more difficult to give our kids and teachers the tools they need. Period.
Simple majority.
Simple decision. Vote yes on HJR 4204.
