The tools for a 21st Century education and protection for the investment in our school buildings

The Capital Projects Levy renewal will continue to pay for two different areas: facilities capital projects, which protect the taxpayers’ investment in school buildings, and technology. These are areas the state doesn’t give the district any money to pay for at all, so it’s all up to this local levy.

Technology: The levy pays for tools that help students learn and teachers to teach. It also pays for productivity tools for district staff. Some of the tools in the classroom that help teachers are computers, ActivBoards (electronic whiteboards), projectors, and the software and network access needed to make these tools work. Other tools that teachers and students use include access to research databases and educational software. The technology part of this levy also helps provide tools that ensure better communication between parents and students, like emergency alert systems and school web site.

Today’s schools have to prepare students for 21st century jobs. More and more jobs, even those that are not in technical fields, require workers who are comfortable with technology. Our students need good computer skills if they are to have plenty of options for their futures. For teachers, technology can give them more options of how they present material, so they can find the best ways to engage the students who are in their classroom, whatever their interests and learning styles.

Facilities: This year’s levy is based on a systematic life cycle approach to replacing major systems in buildings, like roofs, flooring and heating systems, at appropriate times through the life of a school building. It also pays for projects that will help the district save money and the environment at the same time through energy and water conservation. Schools can propose building projects that can accommodate an educational program.

The district’s voters have provided support for some wonderful school facilities. The capital projects levy dollars make sure those buildings are kept in good shape. It means that roofs can be replaced before they start leaking. It means the district doesn’t have to waste money continuing to repair heating systems that are falling apart rather than replacing them entirely. It means that a school that was built before the current educational program was developed can have changes made to adjust it to work better for today’s programs.

This measure also asks voters for a specific sum: it does not fluctuate as your home value changes. So again, if your home’s assessed value increases, your tax rate won’t increase.

This levy is a renewal of a current levy that expires in 2010.

Qualities of a Capital Technology Levy:

• Purpose: 4 years of funding, for immediate use
• Passage Rate required: Simple Majority at 50%
• Frequency: every 4 years