Seattle Public Faculties college students shouldn’t be caught within the crossfire of political fights over college funding. But, a number of the opponents of Proposition 2, the Constructing Excellence (BEX) VI Capital Levy on the Feb. 11 poll, are keen to gamble with pupil security, studying environments and fundamental college infrastructure simply to make some extent.
If this levy fails, our colleges lose important funding for safety techniques, playground repairs, pupil computer systems, cybersecurity and important constructing repairs like heating and cooling techniques.
The 2 levies on the poll aren’t new taxes. They exchange present levy funding. In case you suppose our colleges are underfunded now, wait till we fail to resume one in all our native training levies.
The truth is straightforward: With out BEX VI, each Seattle college suffers. This levy offers $51 million for safety upgrades, $52.7 million for intercom techniques and over $200 million in pressing constructing repairs and renovations. This isn’t about new building — it’s about maintaining lecture rooms secure, heat and purposeful for each pupil within the district.
Some critics recommend withholding funding as a option to pressure the district to plan higher. That’s a harmful sport. A Jan. 29 op-ed in The Instances (“We want to vote for Seattle schools Prop. 2. Here’s why we can’t“) steered that BEX VI favors constructing “shiny new” buildings on the expense of overdue routine constructing upkeep. That is false. BEX VI builds no further colleges however will exchange one ageing elementary college, and the overwhelming majority of funding is devoted to the types of routine enhancements that actually hold the lights on and our youngsters secure.
Seattle can not afford to depart its colleges susceptible to political uncertainty — each native and federal. The easiest way to guard our colleges is to make sure robust native funding — each greenback from this levy stays in our district, immediately supporting college students.
Seattle voters have a powerful observe report of investing in colleges, and for good cause. The final BEX levy, BEX V, delivered seismic upgrades, know-how enhancements and demanding college renovations. The outcomes are clear: After we fund our colleges, college students thrive.
This isn’t the time for political brinkmanship. A “sure” vote on each Prop. 1 and Prop. 2 retains Seattle colleges secure, wholesome and prepared for the longer term.
