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SCHOOL’S IN FOR WINTER – Third grader Sophia Orozco is escorted by Kim Pedroza, transportation supervisor, at the start of the second week of in-class learning Monday. These 90 students, from the Hub, preschool, kindergarten and first grade, will be joined by 40 second and third graders next week. A week later the 40 fourth and fifth grade classes will come to school. More in a future story. – Photo by Ken Stern
Nearly a week after its staff was vaccinated against COVID-19, La Conner Schools received more good medicine Tuesday night.
Initial election results posted on the Skagit County elections office website report district voters approved by a 970-374 margin a four-year, $4.04 million replacement levy that will fund school programs in five key areas through 2025.
That is 72.2% for and 27.8% opposed.
La Conner’s was one of three school districts asking for operations funding, with Concrete and Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon voters had a second proposal for safety and technology capital projects. Both levies received below 50%. Concrete was passing with 56.25% of the vote. An estimated 2,000 ballots remain uncounted.
La Conner’s new district levy rate is $1.45 per $1,000 assessed valuation, a slight decrease from the $1.50 per $1,000 level in place the last two years. The funds will support a broad range of programs addressing campus safety and security, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), special education, extra-curricular activities and extended day learning opportunities that are either not funded or underfunded by the state and/or other agencies.
La Conner Superintendent of Schools Rich Stewart expressed gratitude for the strong voter support and praised a 15-member committee co-chaired by Robert Hancock and Jerry Carr that successful shepherded the levy election campaign.
Stewart outlined the levy proposal during a series of Zoom presentations to various community groups and service organizations in the district. Those efforts paid off.
“We are very pleased with our positive results in this levy election,” La Conner School Board President Susie Gardner Deyo told the Weekly News. “We truly appreciate the support of our community for our kids and the programs this levy will fund.”
Stewart said the district opted for a four-year levy rather than one for two years in part to spare the expense of running an election again in 2023.
La Conner Schools officials say exemptions from school taxes may be available to certain homeowners. The Skagit County Assessor’s Office can be contacted to determine tax exempt status.
The elections office will announce new totals Thursday by 4 p.m.
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