I am worried. Why? Because I am seriously concerned that recession-weary voters may not approve the Link text Lake Washington School District measures on the Feb. 9 ballot that arrived in the mail last week.

Here are some facts to consider. Lake Washington School District ranks 263rd out of 295 school districts in Washington state in per-pupil funding; ranks 14th out of the 15 largest districts in the state on percent of its budget going to central administration expenses; and ranks 2nd out of the 15 largest districts in the state on the percent of its budget going to teaching.

So, if the levies and bond don’t pass, what will happen?

Lake Washington will certainly drop below 263rd in per pupil funding. Teachers and staff will lose their jobs, no question. Textbooks won’t get ordered. Failing roofs will get patches, not replacement. More and more kids will be crammed into portable classrooms.

And that’s just for starters. It’s going to get very ugly. And by the way, the reason that we vote on these property tax levies every four years is because Lake Washington (actually, all districts in Washington) does not receive enough money from the state to pay for everything it takes to educate our kids, and the money has to come from somewhere.

Things are tough all over. I get that. I work for a nonprofit human services agency and I don’t need a reminder of how hard this recession has been for people.

But please – I hope you will vote in favor of our schools. It’s a very small price to pay to ensure the education of 23,000 kids in Lake Washington schools, including mine, will not suffer needlessly.

Denise Stephens

Parent & McAuliffe PTSA

Sammamish