Levy Round 2: Our Thoughts and Serious Head-Scratchers
On April 23rd, Tahoma voters will again have the opportunity to vote on the EP&O levy that was rejected back in February.
Tahoma Parents consists of a diverse group of families connected to the Tahoma School District in various ways. This includes those whose children have completed their education within the district, those with children currently enrolled, as well as families who opt for private or homeschooling options. Our children participate in a wide array of TSD programs spanning athletics, music, arts (including performances like Frozen), advanced learning (HiCap), FFA, robotics, and student government. We deeply appreciate the multitude of excellent programs our district offers.
Yet, the latest actions by the Tahoma School District have left us puzzled and scratching our heads.
Issue 1 - Levy Proposes Property Tax Increase Amid Economic Hardships for Families
Since the initial EP&O levy failure on February 13th, the district has decided to run the levy again without reducing the amount, citing public confusion over there being two levies in February. The voting public is, in fact, a lot smarter than they are given credit for. If the levy was simply renewing the old levy at $2.00 per $1,000 assessed value instead of being increased to $2.50 per $1,000, support for this levy would have increased significantly. At a time when many households are struggling to pay for gas and groceries, asking the maximum allowable amount for a levy is in extremely poor taste.
Issue 2 - More Money Does Not Cure Financial Mismanagement
Misallocation of district finances is a significant ongoing concern. A detailed look at last year's utility spending illustrates this point:
Designated Utility Funds Received from the State: $3,246,836.38
Designated Utility Funds Actually Used for Utilities: $694,566.77
Total Spent on TSD Utilities: $2,298,967.77
Local Levy Funds Redirected to Pay Utilities: $1,604,401.00
What Does This Mean?
Tahoma may have illegally used local levy funds to pay $1.6 million for District utilities. According to state law, the EP&O "Enrichment" levy must be used solely for enhancing the state's basic education program. The money from the State that was supposed to be used for utilities has somehow just disappeared.
Critical Questions
Designated Utility Fund Usage: Where did the approximate $2.5 million in remaining designated utility funds go? Excessive administrator salaries? District coffers?
Misuse of Enrichment Levy: Why were the enrichment levy funds, intended for activities such as sports, early learning, drama, and Zero Hour, used to pay for utilities—a basic need?
The questionable legality of allocating $1.6 million in levy funds for utilities, which should be financed by other means, is yet to be addressed by the District CFO, whose responses fail to clarify these financial discrepancies.
Additionally, the decision to use local levy funds to fully finance the district’s insurance policy, which encompasses coverage for legal settlements such as the Neyer’s sexual assault case at a cost of about $1.5 million, diverts even more essential educational resources.
financial analysis source: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/safs-data-files
Issue 3 - Emotional Manipulation and Misinformation
The fearmongering and threats made to our kids, especially those that suggest safety is contingent upon the levy passing, have got to stop. Teachers diverting class time to discuss levy issues with students and scare them is extremely unethical. A few of the scare tactics we have seen and heard:
Doors won’t get fixed.
Field trips (that were announced after the levy failure) were then canceled.
Sports will be taken away.
IEPs will need to be reevaluated and services will be taken away.
Issue 4 - Reduction of Recess
In the aftermath of the failed EP&O levy, the School Board has decided to eliminate one recess period for all elementary schools. Their reason: the students need more instruction time. This decision was announced to teachers at a professional development event and again referenced during the most recent School Board meeting in a presentation by the Teaching & Learning Department staff. While this may not be a levy issue directly, the levy committee appears concerned about potential voter response to this move.
The rationale behind the cut makes little sense. Countless developmental research and publications assert that kids need MORE recess, not less. According to the CDC, for example, recess not only increases physical activity but also improves memory, attention span, concentration, helps students stay on-task, reduces disruptive behavior, and enhances their social and emotional development.
If the need for more instruction time suggests that the district admits students are not meeting academic standards, reducing recess time is not the answer.
A Constructive Resolution
In light of these concerns, it is imperative that the Tahoma School District reconsider its approach if the levy is struck down again. A no vote in the upcoming ballot should not be seen as a denial of support for our children's education but as a call for the district to reassess its financial management and communication strategies.
Fixing our issues starts at the top!
Reduce the inflated salaries for certain positions, especially when the person receiving such a salary is a known financial liability to our district. Did you know that the TSD is the only district with two K12 employees in the top 10 highest-paid positions in the state as of this writing? Moreover, both members are the only individuals in the top 10 who are not superintendents.
Provide a more transparent and responsible approach to financial management. This includes more information on “mental health programming”, which many families have huge concerns about with only 1 hired nurse at each school.
Offer the community a levy proposal that reflects a balanced and justified budget that prioritizes genuine enrichment without resorting to fearmongering or fiscal irresponsibility.
Provide the community with a way to give input on ways to spend the remainder of levy funds. While a focus on the reputation of Tahoma sports and extensive course offerings is nice, many students do not feel safe with the current climate and culture that exists. Students must feel safe in order to successfully attend any classes.
Continually asking the public to pay for the district’s misallocation and misappropriation of funds, then blaming voters for lost programs, is NOT the answer!
