Support students and families by voting YES on Replacement Levy

Support students and families by voting YES on Replacement Levy

My name is Jenny Ferreira. I am the principal and fourth/fifth-grade teacher at Canyon Elementary Science Magnet School. I am writing to encourage the patrons of KSD 391 to vote YES for the Replacement Levy on March 10. I have been an employee of the Kellogg School District for more than 15 years. I am proud of what we are able to offer children and families in our community. I graduated from Kellogg High School and I currently have two children in the district. One in middle school and a senior in high school.

Our district, like the overwhelming majority of school districts in the state of Idaho, relies on our local patrons to fund the gap between what the state supplies for our district financially and the cost to operate on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, the state only funds 72% of our overall budget — leaving a 28% deficit. This deficit in funding requires almost all districts in the state of Idaho to run “Supplemental Levies” within their communities every other year. As the prior levy comes off the tax rolls this year, it’s time for our district to turn to the community and ask the patrons to vote for the Replacement Levy, which will allow us to continue to provide the quality education programs to the children in our community.

Questions often arise among patrons when it’s time for the district to run a levy. One of the questions I’ve heard frequently has to do with understanding the difference between a bond and a levy. The bond that the district attempted to run a few months ago didn’t pass. That bond would have funded building and grounds maintenance. A supplemental levy is different than a bond. This levy replaces the levy that’s coming off the tax rolls. The funds from a supplemental levy supports programs that directly impact our students. Sports programs, music programs, all-day kindergarten, small class sizes, elective classes, etc. Without these programs, the educational experience for students would drastically decline — these are programs that can completely change the educational experience for students. My own children are very active in sports. Like many other families in our community, I couldn’t imagine my children attending a school that wasn’t able to offer those experiences to them. It is important that we continue to provide these opportunities for students.

If you have questions about the Replacement Levy, please visit www.ksdpride.org. If you have specific questions you’d like answered please contact Dr. Nancy Larsen, KSD superintendent at 208-784-1348 or at nancy.larsen@kelloggschools.org.

Please show your support for students and families in our community and vote YES for the Supplemental Levy on March 10.

JENNY FERREIRA

Medimont