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Every child. One voice Aug. 25, 2010
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HEADS UP: LEVY ON NOV. 2 BALLOT
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Dear PTA and PTSA leaders,
Seattle Public Schools is putting a supplemental levy on the November ballot. There have been two years of state cuts, and more cuts are expected. State tax revenue coming in is less than estimated. Right now, the district anticipates a $27 million shortfall for 2011-12. That could go up or down.
Because of the unprecedented cuts at the state level, districts are being allowed to ask for more locally. The supplemental levy money would go into the district's general fund and be used to pay non-capital expenses. (Capital expenses are things like buildings. This money pays for things like salaries.)
Levy campaign
You will likely hear from Schools First. This is the citizens group that makes sure we have local money for our schools. They can send a speaker out to explain the supplemental levy. (Many PTA and PTSA members are also involved with Schools First, so you may see a familiar face.)
Ballots will go out by mid-October. If your PTA or PTSA wants to send any messaging out about the levy, you need to do so quickly.
Bigger picture
SCPTSA also has a school funding road show, and we can send a speaker out. (It'll probably be our leg vp, Heidi Bennett, because she's just so darn good at it!) The SCPTSA presentation gives the larger picture of why Washington is in the mess it is, ed funding-wise, and what's being done about it. Please contact Heidi if you'd like a funding presentation.
Some details:
- The supplemental levy will raise $48.2 million over 3 years. - to put that in context, the district's annual budget is over half a billion dollars.
- If you had a house worth $400,000 you'd pay an extra $48 a year in property taxes. (12 cents per $1,000 assessed value)
- Local levy dollars make up about a quarter of SPS' operating budget.
- This one is not a renewal, but it is temporary
- Yes, the state is supposed to pay for schools. Per the state constitution, providing for K-12 education is Washington's paramount duty. (Paramount means it's more important than anything else; supreme.) About 1 in 4 teachers is paid for with local levy dollars. Our sixth period in high school is paid for with local levy dollars. If this is news to you, book Heidi.
More info:
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Here are the steps involved in any leg advocacy: Learn about the issue. Discuss it. If you want to endorse, take a vote. Your board can endorse, or your entire PTA/PTSA can endorse. Just make sure you're clear about who endorsed in any communications. You can encourage members to vote a certain way. You do not have to. If you want to, you must first get an endorsement (see above). If you want to tell members to vote a certain way, you can NOT use district resources to do so. That means no using kid mail. That means no using a district-sponsored web site. That means you can't use a district computer to send out a campaign email -- even if the PTA donated that computer. You CAN email from home, using your own list. Some PTAs/PTSAs mail newsletters home to members. You can share factual information in the school newsletter (say to let people know there will be a levy vote). If you usually give PTA/PTSA updates in a school newsletter, you can let people know your board or members endorsed. If you want to hold a campaign rally at school, you have to pay rent. If you just want to discuss an issue (or learn about it) during a regular meeting, then you do not have to pay rent. That's normal PTA activity, and the district normally and uniformly lets educational nonprofits meet onsite rent free. - If you wish, you can make a campaign contribution. First discuss and endorse the issue. Depending on your standing rules, you either need a board vote or a general membership vote. (Generally, if you have a generic line item in the budget for campaign contributions, only the board needs to vote. If you do not have a line item, then you need to amend your budget to add one - and then take the budget back to membership for approval.)
- Don't let anyone tell you that your PTA/PTSA can't advocate. You cannot campaign for a candidate, and you must be non-partisan, but you can take stances on campaign issues. The law favors civic engagement. (Just watch how much you spend on campaigns. Aim for 5 percent of your budget and you'll be safe.)
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