Winlock seeking levy approval during Feb. election

The Winlock School District is hoping voters will be willing to approve a bond levy during the Feb. 11 election to help overcome ongoing shortages in state funding.

Intended to replace an expiring maintenance and operations levy, which concludes this year, the new levy would generate an estimated $800,000 per year through 2018 while establishing $2.42 per $1,000 of assessed value property tax.

District Superintendent Shannon Criss has said the need for a levy continues because the state has yet to adequately fund education, despite a State Supreme Court ruling two years ago directing state legislators to fully fund public education, as is mandate by their interpretation of the state constitution. Until sufficient funding materializes, Criss said districts such as Winlock will continue to depend on Levies for their regular budgetary needs, and noted the increase over the previous levy is around $100,000 per year.

Items expected to be funded by the levy include:

- Additional teachers and staff.

- Athletics and extra-curricular activities.

- Special education, arts and music programs.

- Facility maintenance.

- Instructional technology upgrades.

- Updated curriculum materials.

Projects which may receive funding from the levy include:

- Safety and security upgrades, including the installation of surveillance equipment at all schools and on all busses.

- Updates to building access.

- Athletic Field upgrades and necessary maintenance.

- Maintenance of  bus loops at all schools.

- Technology upgrades to prepare students to take state-mandated assessments in technology use.

Voters can expect to receive their ballots by Jan. 24 and must have them mailed in or delivered to a ballot box by Feb. 11. Those with additional questions about the levy are encouraged to contact the Winlock School District Office at (360) 785-3582.