Comments on: Should Seattle Vote NO On SPS Levy? (Yes)

By: User1234

User1234 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:02:35 +0000

We all like to think that it is our responsibility to vote for school levies, but if you look at the numbers, it quickly becomes clear that the problem with Seattle schools isn't money. The general fund expenses per student in Seattle is more than $12,000 per year. That figure is well above the $9,050 to $10,300 spent per student in neighboring Edmonds, Northshore, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Renton and Everett. The operations levy funds 23% of Seattle public schools; about the same amount that we in Seattle are paying above our neighboring districts. Perhaps the SPS superintendent should ask these neighboring school districts how they are able to provide a much better education for so much less money. I'm voting no, and I my nose will stay firmly attached to my face much like the quality of education in Seattle will not be harmed by a smaller budget.

By: Waste No More - Trim from the Top

Waste No More - Trim from the Top — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:40:03 +0000

SPS has an uncanny knack for wasting money. We vote “for the children” but SPS leadership seems to act “for their jobs.” I truly believe that the District can find the money. It doesn’t have to cut teachers in the classroom to do it. It needs to cut District level jobs. As with most Districts across the US – SPS is too top heavy. Stop creating District jobs for mediocre teachers or those who should retire. Automate and streamline accounting and ordering systems within the District.

If we keep voting to give SPS money “for the children,” we don’t force SPS to be accountable and we continue to enable them to continue as is. For the sake of the children, I am voting no on both levies.

By: SPS Parent

SPS Parent — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:25:45 +0000

Voting NO on the Building Levy and starting to think about No on the Operations also. There is a little tidbit in the NSAP-Transition Plan that the school board will be voting on that says that “some schools” will no longer offer full-day K (paid or otherwise)

ALL schools should OPERATE equally, not just “some schools.”

The district needs rehab not more of the drug.

By: Melissa Westbrook

Melissa Westbrook — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:37:58 +0000

Melanie Jo, if you feel comfortable, could you tell me what school your child is at? Charlie is right, we can check the BTA III list and see what work your school is (or is not) receiving.

This is the kind of thing that should NOT be happening. If your school isn’t on the list for repairs, then this is the kind of thing the Board should know now.

By: Charlie Mas

Charlie Mas — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:46:31 +0000

What school building is it with the puddles of water in the halls? Why hasn’t the District fixed that as part of basic maintenance? That’s the real question. Why does the District leave things like that broken until a special tax is voted on to pay for the repair?

Melanie Jo Olson says that the south-end school where her daughter teaches has leaky waterpipes, poor heat, and inadequate computer networking. Which school could that be?

Maple is the only south-end school getting waterpipes replaced. There are only two south-end schools getting HVAC (heating) upgrades: Dearborn Park and Wing Luke.

So don’t vote for the levy to fix the problems at the school where Ms Olson’s daughter teaches, because it won’t.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:21:40 +0000

I will vote no because there is no accountability for the BTA. The School Board does not have anyone, any agency that they are accountable to when they make decisions. Therefore, the money is spent in a whimsically manner from what I can only guess is a who has the most “clout” with the committee evaluating the projects.

Schools being closed and re-opened costs millions of dollars, and it comes from the taxpayer. Including those people who went to board meeting after board meeting expressing relevant concerns..Viewland being one of the schools that is in this scenario. It lost its occupancy permit, must be upgraded by Millions of dollars, is needed in the Northend, and lost all its copper due to not being secure.

And where does the money come from? And who is responsible for the blunder? And when are these decisions made?

Remember the pamphlets sent out by the District are put together by a Committee, with an advertising professional, using catch phrases that relate to the common person on the street. The campaign is to pull at your heart strings..not to tell the truth.

The Seattle School District doesn’t know what the truth is any more.

By: The Spook Who Sat By The Door

The Spook Who Sat By The Door — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:29:31 +0000

To people the who always respond with, “You are just hurting the kids.”;

I say, “We are already hurting the kids by letting this go on.”

It seems an appropriate analogy might be the choice between continuing to enable a cancerous tumor to continue to grow and spread in order to avoid the pain and discomfort of the treatment necessary to be rid of it.

Which do we fear more? The cancer or the treatment?

Either way, it’s going to get worse before it gets better

By: Melanie Jo Olson

Melanie Jo Olson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:18:15 +0000

Oh please do not vote no on the levy. The poor south end school my daughter teaches in has leaky everything, poor to no heat, inadequate computer networking, etc., etc. You may have differences with how the money has been spent but voting no is going to hurt those on the front lines- kids and teachers. My daughter asked for rubber boots for Christmas so she doesn’t have to step through water running from the restrooms through her classroom. At least we hope it is water.

By: SolvayGirl

SolvayGirl — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:29:36 +0000

Paige. Just be sure you DO vote for the Operating Levy. People need to understand that there will be TWO levies on the ballot. Melissa and others are only advocating voting down the BTA Levy. The Operating Levy is what allows the schools to function on a day-to-day basis.

By: Paige

Paige — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:09:24 +0000

I shall be casting a ‘NO” vote for the Schools First levy. When I express this to friends, I am met with stunned looks. People then try to convince me to change my mind and vote for the levy.

Time and time again, I am told that I should vote for the levy because our schools need it.

Here are my thoughts. I want to vote for something that will improve things. I don’t believe in voting for things for status quo reasons, a status quo which isn’t so great.

Telling me that we need the levy because if it doesn’t pass, things will get worse is NOT a compelling case.

Good on you, Sable, for the additional perspective. Hopefully people will think before casting their ballots.