Sumner School District levies pass

The Sumner School District had two levies on the ballot of the special election on Tuesday, Feb. 11. On the night of the election, both levies were passing. Proposition No. 1 with 4,784 yes votes and Proposition No. 2 with 4,548.

The Sumner School District had two levies on the ballot of the special election on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

On the night of the election, both levies were passing.

Proposition No. 1 with 4,784 yes votes and Proposition No. 2 with 4,548.

“The Sumner School District is pleased that our local community has renewed its commitment to the students in our district by passing our levy measures,” Superintendent Sara Johnson said. “With the current shortfall in funding at the state level, our local community support remains paramount, enabling us to continue to provide excellent instruction, every day, in every classroom, for every student for the upcoming 2015-18 school years.”

The levies presented to the voters were Proposition No. 1: Replacement Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations Levy and Proposition 2: Instructional Technology Capital Levy.

Proposition 1 is a proposed levy that would replace the Sumner School District’s current levy that was approved in 2010 that is expiring at the end of 2014.

It is a four year levy that pays for items not funded or not fully funded by the state, according to a Sumner School District press release.

Some of those items include additional staff for instruction, supervision and safety; teacher training and development and building maintenance, materials and supplies along with others.

Proposition No. 1 is not a new tax, this levy will only replace an expiring one.

The second levy on this ballot, Proposition No. 2, is a four year levy that would pay for improvements to classroom technology. This levy would be a new tax for residents.

Some of the improvements this levy could help improve include having computers for every student by 2017, upgrading and replacing existing computers and software for teachers as well as other improvements.

Proposition 2 would allow the Sumner School District to increase the access students have to technology, according to the press release. It will also pay for the cost to integrate technology for assessment and instruction.

“It also speaks volumes that our community supported our technology levy, a measure that will allow us to put a technology device in the hands of every student in the district, every day,” Johnson said. “Technology is our students’ future, and passing this levy gives learners an early advantage in developing their skills and creativity as they prepare for secondary education and tomorrow’s workplace.”

This is the first time voters have seen proposition 2 on the ballot.

Results are certified by the Canvassing Board Feb. 25.