I am going to sound a little stupid on this one but why do they want a construction levy if they are trying to close a bunch of schools down? Is the construction levy for construction work on existing schools or are they wanting to build new schools?

Mostly renovations. Also: adding classrooms at Ingraham; replacing Denny Middle School, and new construction of the South Shore building, home to the New School, an alternative K-8 in south Seattle.

How to vote: I used a dark pen. And voted yes. And then I'll sign the recall petitions.

Yes, one of the schools in the second bond is my son's - but I voted for school bonds before I had a kid.

If "The Shark" is against it, then I'm all for it! He's a doosh.

They're renewals on existing levies, so I'll vote for them. I'd feel like shit if I voted against the kids, and yes, I've been brainwashed enough to think that a vote against any school levy, be it for new computers to increase employability or ten tons of clay to sculpt homages to Mapplethorpe, is a vote against the children.

the asking price for school construction costs is way overbudget.
you could do several new schools for that price, it's a little ricockulous.

Gitai,

Your feeling is understandable, as that's very much what the educational establishment strives to have you believe.

However, that attitude is exactly what allows that establishment to deliver lousy schools to large segments of society: they just ask for more money, expecting people to vote "for the children," without any attempt to examine their own practices to see if that's the obstacle to improving education.

Willis,

Way to think independently!

"The guy with the other party label has reasons to oppose it, so it must be good!"

Too late. Already voted for them.

While I think the schools are awful, I don't think de-funding them will make them better.

I want to see a full-scale audit and investigation into the school board's accounting practices, especially given they want to shut down several schools, before I go handing them more and more money, especially when much of it's going to fund facilities for private-stake programs.

It's not quite that simple MHD - I could care less that Sharkansky is a Republican (god forbid), but let's face it - he is a gigantic douchebag - not just because I disagree with him 95%, but because he's such a vicious petty little fuck.

Why even bother with Sharkansky? Does Andrew Sullivan not have an opinion on the matter?

Josh, I seriously hope you aren't thinking of not endorsing the school levy to make some symbolic crap statement about the school district. Is everything an abstraction with you?

The school district will waste time and energy they need to spend on finding a new super and getting their shit together. Meanwhile my kids will get no new books, the same crappy buildings with heavy metals in the fountains, and lots more new friends in their classrooms.

Josh, I seriously hope you aren't thinking of not endorsing the school levy to make some symbolic crap statement about the school district. Is everything an abstraction with you?

The school district will waste time and energy they need to spend on finding a new super and getting their shit together. Meanwhile my kids will get no new books, the same crappy buildings with heavy metals in the fountains, and lots more new friends in their classrooms.

Josh, I seriously hope you aren't thinking of not endorsing the school levy to make some symbolic crap statement about the school district. Is everything an abstraction with you?

The school district will waste time and energy they need to spend on finding a new super and getting their shit together. Meanwhile my kids will get no new books, the same crappy buildings with heavy metals in the fountains, and lots more new friends in their classrooms.

Stefan is my contrary indicator - his stance on something is usually a very compelling argument to vote the opposite way. Yes on both for me, in all likelihood ...

All,

I'm the campaign manager for Schools First - the group working the pass the bond and levy on February 6. It's great to see people on both sides of the issue debating this important funding for our children.

While I understand people's frustration with the District, this funding really is vital. Proposition 2, the operations levy provides 24% of the District's day-to-day operating expenses - funding the state doesn't provide. Proposition 1, the capital bond, in addition to renovating or replacing detriorated schools, funds basic health and safety needs.

I'm more than happy to answer any specific questions folks have or you can go to our website - www.schools-first.com.

Thanks.

The question that needs to be asked is why the state isn't providing this missing funding, like they ought to, in the first place.

Funding a quarter of your day to day operations on a loan is really bad financial management, at the very least.

Gomez,

I don't disagree with your premise - but until (if ever) the state fixes it's funding formula, I believe it's important to provide Seattle's schools the support they need to teach our kids - the levy money honestly goes toward teachers, librarians, counselors, special and bi-lingual teaching specialists, and textbooks. Crazy it's not funded by the state, but necessary.

John

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