“It’s to help the district to make some decisions before they make recommendations for the School Board,” said spokeswoman Kim Howard. “It’s just getting input on decisions that we’re making.”
Among the questions district officials want families and community members to address at the meeting:
• Should the district run a two-year or four-year M&O replacement levy?
The 6,300-student district has never run a four-year levy, but officials in North Thurston, Olympia and Yelm school districts say their districts are planning to place four-year M&O levy measures on the Feb. 14 ballot.
“Our intent is to do the same thing,” said Tumwater Superintendent Mike Kirby. “It saves us all money to run those elections together as opposed to separate.”
• Should the district run a technology levy, or incorporate technology funding within an M&O levy?
The district would use technology funding for many things including new computers and hardware, document cameras, smart boards and licensing agreements, Kirby said.
Running an M&O with funding earmarked for technology would give district officials more flexibility on how the money is spent, Kirby said. But it also increases the amount of an M&O levy, and voters might not find that as appealing.
Either way, more technology funding is needed for the district, officials say.
“We haven’t run a bond since 2003, so we’ve run out of technology money,” Howard said.
• How much increase in the M&O should the district request?
The School Board hopes to vote on a levy amount at its Sept. 22 meeting, Kirby said.
• When will the district run another construction bond for remodeling projects, and how does that affect decisions for the Feb. 14 election?
The community forum will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the district’s board room, 621 Linwood Ave. S.W., Tumwater.
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433
lpemberton@theolympian.com
