Hello from your Skyline PTO President, Angie Hoyt. I have taken some time today to publish some important information about the upcoming Education Support Levy. Please take the time to read over the this newsletter and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to read the levy information either on our PTO website, or on the Ferndale School District website at Ferndale.wednet.edu . I am hoping that the information on the Skyline PTO website will help to answer many of the questions that our community has about the upcoming levy election. If you have additional questions that are not answered in this newsletter, or on the Ferndale School District Website, than please send me an email at president@SkylinePTO.org I will do my best to get you the answers you need.
~ Angie Hoyt
President
Skyline PTO

Educational Support Levy 2010 FAQ

When is the levy election, and how do I vote?
The election will be held February 9, 2010 and will be conducted by mail-in ballot only. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed to voters on January 20, 2010.

What is a basic education levy?
School levies provide money to help pay for day-to-day school programs such as teachers and support staff, smaller class sizes, school safety and security, programs for students with special needs, instructional materials including textbooks, music and the arts, transportation, athletics and other extracurricular activities, and utility costs. The length of this levy is two years.

Why does our school district need a program levy?
The state Legislature’s funding formula for basic education falls short of providing all that is required to educate students at the current levels of staffing and services. To make up the difference, this district, like most others in the state, submits levies to voters to support acceptable levels of staffing and essential educational programs.

What percent of the budget does the replacement levy fund?
The local school programs and operations levy pays for approximately 20 percent (or approximately $10 million) of the school district’s $50 million annual budget, filling the gap between state and federal funds and supporting educational programs and services for nearly 5,000 students in 12 schools. About one in every five staff members hired by the district is funded with local levy dollars.

Is this a new tax?
No. The proposed two-year basic education levy replaces the current four-year levy, which expires in December 2010. By law, school levies can only be for a maximum of four years and must be approved by a public vote.
What is the difference between a levy and a bond?
Levies pay for day-to-day school programs. Money used to remodel or build schools comes from school bonds. An easy way to remember this is “Levies are for learning, Bonds are for building”. The Ferndale School District is not asking voters to approve a school bond in this election.

What happens if the levy fails?
Ferndale School District, the second largest district in the county, would have to reduce its operating budget by approximately 20 percent. This translates to about $10 million worth of program reductions and other cost-saving measures to balance the budget. The loss would result in the elimination of educational programs and opportunities, accompanied by significant job losses, over 100. The loss of the levy would mean significantly higher class sizes, fewer elective programs, and the elimination of most, if not all, extra curricular activities.

What in the past has the levy paid for?
Past district levies have paid for transportation, utilities, curriculum materials, full-day kindergarten, library materials, computer equipment, software and training, nursing services, remediation programs, co-curricular programs, counselors, P.E. specialists, assistant secretaries, elementary classroom para-educators, music teachers, math and English teachers, study skills teachers, ADA accessibility, school buses, computer tech support, coaches, activity advisors, maintenance positions, to name a few.

Will any of the money be used to build or remodel schools?
No. Levies pay for day-to-day school programs and operations. Money used to remodel or build schools comes from school bonds. Ferndale School District is not asking voters to approve a school bond in this election.

Where can I get more information?
Additional information about the 2010 school programs and operations levy is on the Ferndale School District Web site www.ferndale.wednet.edu . “Levy information” is featured in a box in upper right of the website. More information will also be in upcoming issues of district publications. An informational mailer will be sent to all households in the near future.