Worried that voters aren’t aware of an important school levy election this February, volunteers are getting the word out across the Issaquah School District to help pass the tax measures.
Since the ISD can’t campaign to pass school bonds and levies, students and parents alike have organized to form Issaquah Students for Issaquah Schools (ISIS) and Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS). VIS is a 501(c)4 citizens campaign organization.
While some are still cooling their heels after November’s General Election, the school levy activists are in the thick of politicking: contacting residents by phone, e-mail, a Facebook Web site and posting yard signs. VIS volunteers plan to call hundreds on Jan. 13 and 14 as part of their “Get Out The Vote” campaign and “Honk and Wave” gatherings to show support before the Feb. 9 mail-in election deadline.
Meanwhile, Skyline High School senior John Gerlach has a similar challenge with his peers, turning out voters.
He helped organize ISIS as a way to get those seniors who are 18 years old on the day of the election registered to vote.
Helping him get the message out about the levies, and what they will do for their schools and classrooms, Gerlach started an ISIS Facebook group in November and keeps about 152 friends informed about the issues.
“When you explain what it’s all about, most kids want to vote for it,” he said.
With a large number of his classmates now eligible to vote but not registered, Gerlach said he was frustrated by the lack of interest at Skyline about something that directly concerns them.
“People are content to let things be the way they are,” he said.
On the immediate horizon is the state’s deadline of Jan. 11 for voter registration. Ballots are expected to arrive sometime between Jan. 18-20.
Due to the state’s complicated funding formulas, many school districts rely on raising money through levies.
Issaquah School District gets over 20 percent of its budget from levies today, and VIS spokesperson Leigh Stokes hopes to continue the expiring levies with a yes vote next month.
“If it doesn’t pass, it will be the equivalent of 4 times as bad as the budget cutting episode we just went through,” she said. “Our biggest enemy is people not voting, and they sure would notice if they don’t pass. It would result in draconian cuts in staff.”
If renewed, the Maintenance and Operations Levy would allow the district to collect between $35 million and $42 million per year (its full statutory authority) from 2011 to 2014. Renewal of the School Bus Levy would provide $1.7 million in 201l to purchase 41 buses and the Capital Levy, if renewed, would allow collection of $32.9 million for technology and $5.6 million for critical repairs of schools.
Because the levies would replace expiring ones and no bonded debt is on the ballot, taxes are expected to stay the same or even fall if the measures pass.
Stokes and others have been doing the rounds at local city council meetings, PTAs, Kiwanis and Rotary — all to spread the message to get out and vote. Stokes herself appeared before the Sammamish City Council on Jan. 5 and encouraged them to follow the lead of the Issaquah City Council, which has already endorsed the levy package.
“There’s a high level of inertia that could really hurt us,” she said.
Organizers estimate they will need at least 9,908 yes votes on each levy to pass them. At least 40 percent of registered voters must participate and a simple majority is needed for approval.
Residents in the Issaquah Highlands have an opportunity to learn more at a volunteer meet and greet at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 15th in Blakely Hall.
For more information or to volunteer, contact VIS spokesperson Leigh Stokes at 425-313-7670.
