Federal Way residents have a decision to make.
The Federal Way School District has a tech levy on the Feb. 9 ballot to replace the expiring levy.
The current tech levy, enacted in 2005, is set to expire at the end of the year. The current levy brings in $1.8 million a year, or as the district estimates, costs the average homeowner about $31 a year.
That levy brought the district a new infrastructure, upgraded servers and installed fiber-optic wiring across the district. It also brought the student-to-computer ratio from 12:1 to 8:1, and if the district includes some of the older computers kept in use, the ratio is even closer at 5:1.
The proposed levy
The levy going before the public is fairly straightforward for the first two years. The levy would continue at the $1.8 million that is currently collected, and would sustain the current infrastructure, maintain the 20 percent upgrade cycle for district computers and allow for a few new programs.
In the third year, the levy would increase, right at the same time that the school’s construction bond decreases. Residents’ payments would remain roughly the same as they have been for this year. If the levy were to stay at the $1.8 million mark, residents’ payments would begin going down at this point.
At this point, the district will be collecting $4.4 million a year, or roughly $75 per year for the average residence.
This money will be used move the district toward a student-to-computer ratio of 1:1, as well as keep the district’s computers and technology up to date.
The full list of technology upgrades under the levy include continuing the annual upgrade of 20 percent of the district’s oldest computers; an operating system upgrade (the district recently upgraded to Windows XP); portable electronic devices for students (generally just the older students require textbooks); new servers; wireless access; video projectors and document cameras; new technology for math and science classes; new software for grades and libraries; and additional technology staff.
Support for the levy
The campaign for the levy is being led by students, fronted by the group Students for Federal Way Schools, which itself is an offshoot of Citizens for Federal Way Schools.
They say the levy is needed to keep students competitive for life after high school, which for many will include being tech savvy.
“Technology has changed the way (teachers) taught,” said Riley Germanis, a senior at Todd Beamer High School. “Imagine a classroom without a computer. That’s what it is without the levy. All the effects we have now is because someone before us put in the effort.”
“Failure really isn’t an option,” Superintendent Tom Murphy said of the tech levy. “Our kids deserve to be better prepared for the 21st century.”
If the levy does not pass in February, Murphy said the district will try again to pass the levy.
Against the levy
A group of Federal Way citizens opposes the levy as it stands.
The Committee to Improve Our Schools is speaking out against the levy. The committee includes former school board member Charlie Hoff as well as former school board candidates Steve Skipper and Bill Pirkle. They believe that students in the district do not need one computer per student, and that what is available in the schools currently, along with computers available in the public library and at home, should be enough to meet students’ needs.
They also maintain that paying for software and upgrades for that many computers is a waste of money, and that instead of spending the money on technology, the school district should instead be concentrating on improving education through better teachers and going back to the basics.
“I can’t find any place where computers are improving education,” Charlie Hoff said of his research. “(Computers) have become a distraction. This levy should be about sustaining the level, not increasing.”
The Committee to Improve Our Schools would like the levy stay at the $1.8 million level, where the current amount of computers is maintained. Instead of using citizens’ money on a tech levy, the committee members would rather the money go toward a long-term project — for example, a remodel of Federal Way High School’s academic section.
“It’s long-term borrowing for short-term gain,” Steve Skipper said.
Hoff said there was not enough discussion about the proposed levy. Although there were several readings and announcements made at school board meetings as well as an area on the school district’s Web site for comments on the proposal, Hoff said there was not enough community involvement and that the district only really gave one option.
“You have two tries at this,” Hoff said. “Let’s have a community discussion. Let’s hear some options, do this or that instead of saying the only option on the menu is corn flakes.”
Levy vs. bond
A bond pays for the construction of new or remodeled school buildings. A levy pays for day-to-day operations of schools including teachers, textbooks, supplies and extra-curricular programs not fully funded by Washington state. Both funding measures must be approved by local voters.
