With Washingtons Presidential Primary Caucuses behind us, some voters may be losing interest in the Feb. 19 Presidential Primary election which is less than a week away.
Democrats may be disinclined to vote in the primary as their partys caucuses determined all of their national convention delegates. Republicans may have tepid interest in voting as their caucuses selected nearly 50 percent of their partys delegates. And independents may not want to participate in the presidential primary because they dont want to declare a party affiliation. But local voters in all parties should not forget that they have the opportunity to support their local school district on the Feb. 19 ballot.
Residents of the Lakewood School District will have the opportunity to vote on two local measures A replacement Operations and Maintenance Levy and a Technology Levy. The proposed P&O Levy would fund approximately 17 percent of the districts annual operating budget. The funding would be used for curriculum, facility maintenance and upkeep, health and counseling services, security, services for students with special needs, student athletics and activities, transportation and more. The four-year, $3.8 million Technology Levy would fund the five parts of the districts Technology plan, including instructional technology, security, staff training, infrastructure and implementation.
Arlington voters are being asked to approve a four-year replacement Programs and Operations Levy which would account for approximately 18 percent of the districts budget. The critical funding would pay for co-curricular activities such as music, drama and clubs; sports, technology, transportation and building support. The SP&O funds would also go to certificated staff such as teachers, counselors and nurses; and classified staff such as school secretaries, custodians and para-educators.
The Darrington School District is sending a pair of measures to local voters a four-year replacement Maintenance and Operations Levy which would account for approximately 16 percent to 20 percent of the districts budget and a two-year Transportation Levy. The M&O Levy fund the general operating expenses of the district, helping to pay for things such as curricula, classroom supplies, staff training, athletics, utilities, technology, basic maintenance and repairs and other day-to-day expenses not fully funded by state and federal dollars. The Transportation Levy would fund the replacement of two buses that have reached the end of their state-funded depreciation cycles.
Lakewoods proposed Operations and Maintenance Levy, Arlingtons Program and Operations Levy and Darringtons Maintenance and Operations Levy are all replacement levies slated to take effect when the existing levies expire at the end of 2008.
The levies appearing on the Feb. 19 ballot all provide vital and necessary funding to our local school districts and they all deserve our support. Vote Yes on Feb. 19 to support the school district in your area. Its an investment in our childrens future.

To contact a member of The Marysville Globe/Arlington Times editorial board Stuart Chernis or Scott Frank e-mail forum@marysvilleglobe.com.