Multiple school districts in our community are running levy renewal campaigns on a Feb. 11 special ballot.

Please support the replacement levy for the Central Kitsap School District. The levy on the Feb. 11 ballot is a replacement for expiring levies, making a minimal impact on property taxes.

Levy funds allow school districts to offer advanced placement courses, all-day kindergarten, library services, and additional special education services. Levy funds are used to lower class sizes, to maximize student learning at every level.

Additionally, levy funds support extracurricular activities.

Recent changes in the state budget make local levies even more important for school districts to provide high-quality education to Central Kitsap students. In Washington state, 95 percent of all schools rely on local levy funds.

The support of local levies further qualifies individual districts for state matching funds. Rejecting a local levy would then disqualify school districts from state funds, putting our students at a great disadvantage in the local and global workforce.

Whether or not you have students in Central Kitsap area schools, a “yes” is a wise investment in the future of Kitsap County.

Laura Rarig

Ridgetop Junior High School Teacher