The Ridgefield School District has a levy on the April 23 special election ballot that seeks to replace an expiring tax at the maximum level allowed under new state law.
The district has put a “Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy” on the April ballot which will have a similar $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value rate as is currently running through the end of the year. The current rate has been capped for this year following changes in state law that resulted from the Washington State Legislature’s “fix” for fully funding K-12 education as part of the McCleary state supreme court decision.
A district release noted that the levy would fund a variety of positions and programs including “professional development for teachers, curriculum, technology, classroom support (additional teachers and teacher assistants), extra-curricular activities (athletics), community education, and early childhood education activities.”
If approved, the levy would run for three years, from 2020 to 2022.
“The operations levy is vital to the successful operation of the district,” RSD Superintendent Nathan McCann stated in the release. “Renewal of levy funding ensures that we can continue to deliver the comprehensive, high-quality education expected by our students and families.”
Ridgefield joins Hockinson School District in local ballot measures for April’s election.
