A message from the Superintendent

Jan. 22, 2013

Good afternoon,

The two Seattle Public School levies on the February 12, 2013, special election ballot provide funding for day-to-day district operations and for capital improvements. Both ballot measures are replacements for expiring school levies, and both provide much-needed funding to address our growing enrollment.
 
The Operations Levy, Proposition 1, renews two expiring operations levies and provides 27 percent of the district’s general fund budget. It helps pay for classroom instruction, bilingual and special education services, textbooks and supplies, bus transportation, security, and student activities such as athletics, drama and music. For the 2013-14 school year:

• 72 percent of the operations budget is used for teaching and instruction;
• 16 percent covers transportation, food services, maintenance and operations.
• Half of the remaining 12 percent goes to principals’ offices and half goes to administration.

The Building Excellence (BEX) Capital Levy, Proposition 2, supports our long-range plans to upgrade and renovate aging school facilities and provides the opportunity to address growing enrollment. This will be the fourth BEX levy. BEX IV renews the expiring BEX III levy and provides funds for major building projects to address capacity, aging facilities, safety and 21st century technology needs.

After extensive planning work by staff and advisory committees, supplemented by feedback from parents and citizens, the BEX IV projects were chosen based on four criteria: safety and security, capacity needs, building condition, and maximizing flexibility for programs and services. While we had to make some difficult decisions in prioritizing projects, I believe that this levy package reflects what is best for our students, both now and in the future.

You can find more information about both of these levies at http://bit.ly/LeviesInformation2013.

Because I have been your Superintendent for less than a year, this is my first experience with the levy process in Seattle. I remain impressed by the level of community participation and passion about Seattle Public Schools and the education of our children. Your input helped shape these levies, and I’d like to say thank you for your input.

Please remember that this election is a mail-in election, and your ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 12, 2013.

Sincerely,



José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

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