La Conner slates February school levy

It's only the first full week of school and district officials are already looking ahead to February.

The five-month countdown has begun for the next La Conner Schools Educational Programs and Operations replacement levy.

School district voters in 2021 approved a four-year levy that will collect $1.02 million for 2024 and $1.05 million in 2025. Those funds are generated by a $1.11 per $1,000 assessed property valuation across the district.

That rate is the second lowest among Skagit County school districts. Anacortes, with petroleum refinery revenue streams, has the lowest rate.

"We're quite a bit below the cap of what we can do," Superintendent David Cram assured school board members at their Sept. 9 meeting. "Our rate is extremely competitive."

State school districts allocate levy monies toward teaching, school supplies, technology, athletics, building maintenance, transportation and other educational needs.

District officials anticipate drafting and adopting a formal 2025 levy resolution between now and the end of October. The district will then file with Skagit County for a February election.

Cram said the district will hold community engagement meetings in January and February ahead of the election.

Using a two per cent growth rate he called conservative, Cram projects a replacement levy will generate an additional $25,000 to $30,000 annually above present revenues while remaining in the $1.11 per $1,000 valuation range.

"I like to be very conservative," stressed Cram, who has spent the bulk of his career in school finance. "I always want to use a rate that I can be sure we can hit."

School Board President Susie Deyo, participating remotely, agreed.

"We have to be careful what we want to ask for," she said, "and be aware of what our taxpayers have an appetite for."

Deyo suggested proposing a two-year or three-year levy measure in 2025. Doing so, she said, might align the next election with those of other districts.

"If we line up with them," said Deyo, "we won't have to pay for the entire (school levy) election ourselves."

Cram said he would confer with other school superintendents for ballot schedules.

La Conner district taxpayers are also paying $1.41 per $1,000 assessed valuation on the bond used to construct the campus middle school building.

The meeting started with a listing of topics the panel's student representatives will address. Their initial task is to collect feedback and report student responses to the new cell phone free zone policy.

"They're eager to talk about cell phones and share what they've heard," board member Kim Pedroza said.

Student reps Emmalin Goodman and Kellie Cayou-Lockrem will also examine with community service graduation requirements.

Pedroza and Executive Assistant Cherri Kahns will meet monthly with Goodman and Cayou-Lockrem to develop additional project ideas.

The board unanimously approved Cascade Renewables to manage a Department of Commerce grant award to solarize the campus.

"We're in the beginning stages of the project," said Cram. "Their role is to determine any project hurdles ahead of time."

Cascade Renewables has been working with the district for the past year, Cram said.

Additionally, the board unanimously adopted a memorandum of understanding with Northwest Educational Services District 189 for fifth grade bicycle education.

"They're going to bring bikes in here and teach the kids how to ride," explained Director of Teaching and Learning Beth Clothier. "They also do maintenance on the bikes. They came here last year and did this. I think it's a good thing."

The board next meets on Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. in the district administration building.