North Hill Community Club

Neighbors, this came to me today and I felt is was very important to pass on.  Please take 5 minutes to get up to date on this issue so you can make an informed decision before Feb 8:

On February 8^th, the Highline Public School District will be asking the community to re-authorize a Maintenance and Operation Levy for 2012 through 2015.  The current Levy expires at the end of 2011 and provides for nearly 25% of the district’s operating budget.  These funds support schools in a number of ways providing funds to reduce class sizes with additional teachers and support staff, textbooks, bus transportation, and maintaining our schools.  It’s important to note that this is not a new tax for the people of Des Moines and the Highline area, but a continuation of the current levy.  It should also be noted that this Levy will set a flat collection rate that amounts to $46 million in 2012, $47 million in 2013 and 2014, and $49 million in 2015 with a rate of roughly $3.44 per $1000 of assessed value (meaning that the District does not collect more if property values increase as it is projected they will over this time span).

With the current funding issues in Washington State, the district has already had to make budget cuts amounting to $14.5 million dollars.  Should the M&O Levy fail, it would mean a reduction to the budget of $47 million dollars in addition to the proposed losses this year and more possibly in 2012 requiring massive reductions in the support for students.  It will mean lost jobs, students receiving only the most basic education, larger class sizes, and much more.  About 80% of the Levy pays for teachers and support staff in our district, which is roughly 250 positions.   To ensure the continuing success of our students this Levy is critical.

As this is a mail-only ballot, ballots must be postmarked by the 8^th of February to be counted.  I would like to urge you all to send in your ballots and hope that you will join me in supporting this measure and our schools.

Michael Spear
Director, Position #5 – Des Moines
Highline Public Schools

For additional information, please visit:
http://www.hsd401.org/

For frequently asked questions:
http://www.hsd401.org/ourdistrict/news/Levy%202011%20FAQ.pdf

Facts about the District’s M&O Levy:
http://www.hsd401.org/ourdistrict/news/2011%20Levy%20fact%20sheet%20rev%201-11.pdf

Neighbors, helping kids make good choices and providing opportunities is something that impacts all of us.  I think most of us would agree that when kids are bored and have to find something to do for entertainment, that unfortunately leads to trouble for the neighborhood.  The Community Schools Collaboration program described below not only provides a safe and educational environment, but also helps improve participation in learning and performance.  Here is a letter from Rob Schadt, Site Manager, Pacific Middle School.

Hello Vince,

I now have some materials for you to pass on to your club’s members about volunteering opportunities at Community Schools Collaboration’s (CSC) new after school program at Pacific Middle School, which will be beginning in October.  Attached to this message is a flyer with a description of Community Schools Collaboration as an organization and what we do, along with a description of what we have planned for Pacific Middle School in Des Moines (our first after school program site in Des Moines).  My contact information is located at the end of the flyer; please feel free to distribute this flyer and let people know to give me a call or email if they would like any additional information, whether it be about interest in volunteering or if they simply would like more information on our program.  We are primarily looking for volunteers interested in providing homework help to students at the school (one day per week for 45-60 minutes after school), as well as individuals interested in leading small groups of students in enrichment activities (i.e. knitting, running, etc.)

Additionally, here are some statistics and quotes about our program:

According to a survey recently completed by teachers:

• 75% of students in CSC after school programs improved their academic performance
• 71% of students in CSC after school programs improved their classroom participation
• 62% of students in CSC after school programs improved in coming to school motivated to learn

And, when students in CSC after school programs were asked about the positive impacts of attending CSC after school, they had the following to say:

• “You get good grades.  I raised all my grades to all A’s and B’s and I had a GPA of 3.5.  The after school program helped me focus on my homework and they would help me when I needed help.”
• “It gets you away from hanging out with the wrong people sometimes.  It makes you do better, make better choices.”
• “I would be failing all my classes because I wouldn’t have any work turned in.  In the beginning of the school year I really needed help on my work and I didn’t know where to come so I told my counselor and he recommends coming to the after school program.  I really like it because they help with your grades.”

Please let me know if you have any additional questions; thank you!

Thank You,

Rob Schadt

http://www.cscwa.org

CSC Pacific brochure.pdf