On November 12, 2020, the BISD board of directors passed Resolution 03-20-21 Renewal Enrichment and Operations Levy. requesting voter approval of continued enrichment funding for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. 

Why is BISD proposing a renewal of the Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

This renewal levy replaces the expiring levy, which voters approved in 2017. The levy used to be known as the Educational Programs & Operations Levy. While Washington state did approve enhanced funding for “basic” education in K-12 public schools in recent years (known as the McCleary fix), the state still does not provide enough funding to cover the cost of what we consider to be an adequate education for BISD students. 

EXAMPLE: For a district the size of BISD, the state believes it is sufficient to employ the equivalent of 0. 561 of a nurse to support 3,500+ students. BISD believes nurses play an important role in the success of our students and that employing one half-time nurse isn’t sufficient. Instead, BISD employs 4.561 FTE nurses. Their salaries and benefits are paid from the Enrichment Levy.  Another funding discrepancy example is around school counselors. The state says that for a district the size of BISD, 7.975 FTE counselors are adequate. In reality, BISD employs 10.10 FTE counselors.

Why is this levy now called an Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

The Washington State Legislature approved Engrossed House Bill 2242 in June 2017 which changed how the state funds public education. In the bill, the legislature updated the terminology school districts could use for local levies and changed it from the Educational Programs & Operations Levy to the Enrichment & Operations Levy. 

While the name “enrichment” may conjure up the notion of “extras”, BISD’s Enrichment & Operations Levy is crucial in operating our schools. In recent history, BISD has never operated without local levy support. 

How much will BISD rely on the renewal of the Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

The funds from the levy make up a significant portion of BISD’s annual general fund budget. Out of BISD’s $57,514,000 budget for the 2020-21 school year, 17% of the budget ($9,789,600) is supported by the Enrichment Levy. 

What are examples of items paid out of the Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

Monies generated from the Enrichment & Operation Levy impact all areas of BISD programming. Examples include:

• Staffing (which helps maintain lower class sizes)
• Programs to meet student instructional needs such as Special Education, English Language Learners, Remedial Reading & Math
• Specialists such as art, music, STEM, and electives 
• Extracurricular activities such as athletics and clubs
• Staff Professional Development
• Student transportation

Kids aren’t in school right now. Is this money still being spent?

It should be noted that thanks to the generosity of the Bainbridge Island community and its passing of the current levy, BISD was in a good position to cover the unexpected expenses due to COVID-19. Through December 2020, BISD has spent an estimated $956,000 responding to the pandemic. These expenses include:

• Supplies (cleaning materials, handwashing stations, thermometer kiosks, etc.)
• Personal protective equipment (face masks, safety glasses, and gloves, office shields)
• Staff (teams developed plans before the start of the school year, COVID-19 monitors at every school site)

I’ve heard reports that BISD enrollment is down. Why is funding from levies still necessary? 

Compared to the 2019-20 school year, BISD is down approximately 200 students. Of those students, more than 30% are being independently homeschooled and almost 20% transferred to a private school in Kitsap County. It is anticipated that many of the students who left during this challenging year will re-enroll once our schools return to normal operations. This Enrichment Levy will support BISD in the future — 2022-2024.

How is the Enrichment & Operations Levy amount determined? 

For districts with fewer than 40,000 full-time students, Enrichment & Operations Levies are capped at the lesser of:

• $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value or
• $2,500 per full-time equivalent student (which is adjusted by inflation). BISD falls into this category because of the high assessed property values on Bainbridge Island.  

What is the term for the Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

Typically, BISD puts forth four-year levies. However, given uncertainty regarding how the levy funding laws may change in Washington State, BISD decided to run the Enrichment Levy for a three-year term. This levy will be collected in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

What happens if the Enrichment & Operations Levy isn’t renewed? 

Failure to pass the Enrichment Levy would be catastrophic for BISD. For the 2021-22 school year, the district will already need to “right-size” its staffing levels to adjust to current enrollment. Without the Enrichment Levy, we will see drastic cuts to staffing; increases in class size; and loss of electives, specialists, and counselors in all our schools.  

What is the ballot language for the Enrichment & Operations Levy? 

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 303
KITSAP COUNTY, WASHINGTON

PROPOSITION NO. 1
RENEWAL ENRICHMENT AND OPERATIONS LEVY

The Board of Directors of Bainbridge Island School District No. 303 approved Resolution No. 03-20-21, concerning the replacement of an expiring school enrichment and operations levy. This proposition provides funding for educational programs and operations not funded by the State. If approved, Proposition 1 will authorize the District to levy the following excess taxes, on all taxable property within the District, as provided in Resolution No. 03-20-21:

Approximate Levy Rate per

Collection Years                    $1,000 of Assessed Value                    Levy Amount

2022                                               $1.04                                        $10,000,000
2023                                                $1.06                                        $10,300,000
2024                                                $1.07                                        $10,500,000

Should this proposition be approved?

YES

NO

For the full text of the Levy Resolution go here.

For more information on the Financial Implications of the Levy, go here.

When do we vote on this?

The Kitsap County Auditor will mail ballots to voters in late January (approximately Jan 22, 2021).  Completed ballots must be either:

1. Dropped at a polling location before 8 pm on February 9, 2021

or;

2. Returned by mail in the postage-paid, supplied envelope postmarked by February 9. Please note that a stamp is NOT required.

What if I’m not registered to vote? 

The deadline to register to vote is 8 days before an election. In this case, February 1, 2021.

For more information on registering to vote in Kitsap County go here.