On February 11th, voters will be asked to renew our San Juan Island School maintenance and operations (M&O) levy, which expires in 2014. This is not a new tax.

Every four years, state law requires voters to approve their local school district M&O levies.

We are asking you to approve this levy again. Please join me in voting “YES” for our award winning schools.

“Basic Education Funding” as provided by the state of Washington is not sufficient to fully fund our school district’s programs. Nearly 20 percent of the San Juan Island School District’s budget is provided with this M&O levy.

It makes up the difference between what it costs to operate the schools and what the state pays.

Our school district, similar to most school districts in the state, uses this local support to fund programs and teaching positions we consider essential. These dollars flow directly to our classrooms and after school programs, providing additional teachers and instructional staff.

M&O levy funds support reasonable class sizes, staffing for music, visual arts, advanced placement, vocational tech, online classes and alternative options for all our students.

This is not a new tax.

San Juan Island voters have supported their schools at the polls for decades.

Now it is time to renew the M&O levy for the next four years and we are asking you to “VOTE YES” and renew this levy again.

Brent Snow / Chairman, San Juan Island School District Board of Directors