Rising tensions are occurring at the local town of Maple Valley, and its School Districts are finding themselves at the brink of uncertain shifts for education. The community is grasping concerning questions about the risk of the levy expiring, and how it would significantly impact Tahoma’s schools and staff, and their student’s academic experience. With the clock counting down the days, minutes, seconds; tension and unease rises about the Tahoma School District financial uncertainty
A Taxing Effort
Managing the school district isn’t all that simple, it requires a huge effort for funding the elements of educational programs, according to the official Tahoma School District, “the levy funds technology devices and infrastructure, and it also provides funding for the staff who lead technology” (Tahoma School District). This is significant for all current and future implementations as it helps fund schools for improvement on maintenance, program and facility extensions, and technology. Matthew Cole, a teacher for Tahoma High School, and its music program tells more about the levy. “The district would be reverting back to a 6-period schedule instead of an 8-period schedule… student’s elective courses would decrease, which could cause students to make big sacrifices throughout their high school career”
What’s the Cost?
Each year, the School District estimates their required amount of income in order to maintain their schools. It comes to a consensus that the estimated levy amount is required to reach a total fund of $21,258,878 by 2024, according to the official webpage of King County. If the school district fails to maintain the levy funds, there would be a massive reduction for staff members, curriculum programs, and technology services. Cole states his concern that it hasn’t been clear of what exactly the cuts are going to be, however he infers that the cuts would particularly impact outside-school activities. This inferred that, without the levy, schools in the Tahoma School District would have a limited amount of how students and staff are able to participate in their activities in a very limited amount of resources that would normally be funded by their schools. “That would mean budget and stipends for the staff…” Cole highlighted. “It’ll impact all of the sports, and performing arts such as marching band-related events, evening concerts, school musicals, and school plays. And any budgets associated or supporting those arts would also be cut in addition” Cole says.
Communal Encouragement
As of right now, students and members are determined to make a movement for the community of the local Maple Valley community to consider voting in favor of the levy before the deadline: April 23, 2024. This is an effort to protect the well-renowned education of schools and its activities in order to improve the quality of student’s experiences and knowledge, and how it manages how staff members get paid.
