Good Evening Everyone,

The Maintenance and Operations Levy is up for renewal in February. If this levy is not renewed, the district will have to cut $40 million (about a quarter of the district’s budget) out of its budget for 2010-2011 school year.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?:
* The current levy funds 24% of the school district’s budget.
* What specfically does it fund?
+ music programs
+ sports programs
+ after school programs
+ transportation (approx. $4 million)
+ special education (approx. $5 million)
+ teacher/staff compensation (above what the state funds)
+ teacher/staff professional development days (above what the state funds: the state only funds one day per year)

* If this levy is not renewed, the district will have to cut $40 million out of its budget for 2010-2011 school year.  It had to cut $11.5 million this school year.
* 70% of voters in our district boundaries do not have school aged children.
* The good news: This is a replacement levy.  No new taxes.  We only need a simple majority to pass the levy.

This levy does NOT increase anyones taxes, it just keeps them at the same level.

This levy does NOT increase anyones taxes, it just keeps them at the same level.

* We need to form a School Election Team (SET). This SET team will help spread the word about the importance of voting in favor of the levy.
* The training meeting for the SET will be THIS THURSDAY, OCT 8th, from 4:30-5:30 pm at the EEA office.

If you can attend the SET training or want more info, please contact Michelle Toshima (mtoshima@verizon.net).