Misunderstanding about new school needs

The Royal School District has been receiving calls about a misunderstanding that arose from a story in the Royal Register last week about the upcoming levy election.

A clarification is in order.

The mention of the "new school under construction" as one of the reasons to raise the levy amount over the previous levy did not say additional funds were needed for construction. Some people chose to read words that weren't written.

Construction cost is covered completely in the construction bond approved by the voters last spring. Program support was the issue with which last week's story was dealing.

All schools, including new ones, in all school districts, usually need operation and maintenance funds beyond what the state sends. The state does not support all programs. Or it only partially supports some of them.

The support that will be needed in the RSD will be spread around to all of the schools. Being new does not preclude the intermediate school from needing maintenance and operation funds.

There has always been confusion about levies and bonds. The two words are often mistakenly substituted for each other in conversation.

Lay people do it. So do educators and administrators. It may happen accidentally, but it happens.

To be clear: bonds are passed by voters to pay for the construction of buildings; levies are passed to support programs within those buildings.

The fact that some of the levy funding would go to the new school should not discourage anyone from voting for a new levy. Students in that building should be equal to all others when it comes to programs and services.

The change in levy amount that is being asked is based on best estimates of factors that affect levies. Enrollments continue to rise. Levy equalization is declining. And so on.

If you question whether $1.35 million the first year and $1.37 million the second year are too much, call the district or a school board member with your questions. They've studied this carefully and have your answers. They are quality people doing honest work.

The amount of the levy request is what administrators believe is needed to adequately fund all programs district-wide, in all buildings.

If you like your schools - and I believe you should - vote yes for the levy in February.