Renton Specials - Renton School District - Jan 2016

High Quality Instruction and Learning for Every Child, Every Day in Every Classroom

Jan. 2016

Two important school funding measures for students, teachers and local education on Feb. 9 ballot (ballots in homes now) Measure 2: Building for a Lifetime of Learning Capital Levy to Construct and Renovate School Facilities will allow building a much-needed new elementary school to accommodate the continued growth at all elementary schools throughout the district. The new school will be built at the site of Sartori Education Center, 315 Garden Ave, North, Renton. The capital levy measure will also finance improvements and renovations to many existing schools throughout the district including: • roofs, floors and boiler replacements; • improvements in windows and classroom climate controls; • playground and parking lot repairs, and much more.

• The levy also includes funding for the district's comprehensive Technology Plan to continue to maintain and update technology tools and software used by students, teachers and support staff in every classroom and school. The technology supported by this measure supports and strengthens student achievement, and works to operate a large technology-dependent system efficiently.

Citizens in the Renton School District will vote on two separate but equally-important funding measures to support student learning on February 9, 2016. It is estimated that, with approval of the two-item package, homeowners will pay the same amount of tax in 2017 and beyond as they pay in 2016.

Measure 1: Replacement Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations Levy provides more than 26 cents of every dollar spent in classrooms, for student learning, teacher training and other district operations each year. The levy will renew the district’s current four-year levy, which expires in 2016. Voter approval is required for this funding, which contributes to classroom materials, textbooks, teachers, support staff, building maintenance, school bus transportation, school lunches, athletics and more. This is not a new tax: It replaces a measure that expires in 2016

Tax rate will not increase!

See the back page for more information.

Ballots in homes now. Return your ballot before Feb. 9!

Measure 1: Replacement Educational Programs, Maintenance and operations Levy This Replacement Levy provides 26 cents of every dollar spent in classrooms, for student learning, teachers and support staff, school building maintenance and other operational costs each year. The Replacement Levy renews the district’s current four-year levy,

which expires in 2016. Voter

• lower class size,

• school lunches,

approval is required to maintain

• teacher salaries,

• music, theater and arts,

• school support staff,

• athletics and more.

this source of funding, which contributes to: • classroom materials, • textbooks,

• school building maintenance, • school bus transportation, fuel and maintenance,

• This is not a new tax: It replaces a measure that expires in 2016

Why am I being asked to help fund local education?

In Washington State, local citizens have an opportunity to help provide a large portion of school funding for every student in every classroom in schools in their community.

This local funding amounts to more than one quarter of every dollar spent in schools across the district to support student learning and high-quality teaching.

School districts in Washington State are funded by three main sources: • Local levy funding, which makes up more than 26 cents of every dollar spent in classrooms and around the district, is only provided if local

voters approve the funding. The levy funding expires every 3-4 years and must be re-approved by voters. (This is not a new tax: it replaces one that expires in 2016.)

• State funding, which makes up the largest portion of school funding, comes to us based on the number of students attending our schools.

• Federal funding, which is less than 9% of the district’s budget, comes to us for specific student programs.

The funding provides additional teachers to keep class size low; more arts and music programs;

sports and athletics; school bus transportation; building maintenance and more.

Renewal of this funding must happen every 3-4 years by voter-approval.

Ballots in homes now. Return your ballot before Feb. 9!

Measure 2: Building for a Lifetime of Learning Capital Levy to Construct and Renovate School Facilities 2016 Building for a Lifetime of Learning The Capital Facilities Levy will allow funding to build a much-needed new elementary school at the site of Sartori Education Center, 315 Garden Ave, North, Renton, to help eliminate much of the congestion at current district elementary schools. The new school will help accommodate the growth at all elementary schools throughout the district. The measure also allows improvements, renovations, and critical maintenance and repair projects at schools across the district.

These projects (see list at right) help maintain schools in optimal working order for student learning, protect the investment made by taxpayers in their local schools, and result in dollars saved in utility efficiencies.

Technology program funding is part of the Capital Facilities Levy Modern technology can never replace a good teacher. But, a good teacher armed with valuable technology tools and strategies can become even better. The capital facilities levy also includes funding for the districtwide technology plan to implement the district’s longterm technology programs to maintain and update technology tools and software used by students, teachers and support staff in every classroom and school. The technology replacement levy provides: 24/7 access to curriculum and coursework for students, parents and teachers to enhance individualized learning; wireless access in all schools; technology enhancements for safety and security; electronic tools for teachers to improve learning; and much more.

Why is another elementary school needed?

Student enrollment in the district has increased by more than 1,800 students in less than 10 years as families move into the area for first-rate schools, affordable housing and excellent community and city amenities. Student populations are increasing in every school in the district. The district has seen an increase of between 100-200 students per year, or the equivalent of an additional school every year, for the past several years. Elementary school populations continue to grow as parents have children, and new families move into the district. Also impacting space at existing elementary schools is the addition of free, full-day kindergarten classes for all students, and work to decrease class-size in grades K-3.

The Capital Levy to Construct and Renovate School Facilities will build a much-needed new elementary school at the site of Sartori Education Center, 315 Garden Ave, North, Renton, to help eliminate much of the congestion at current district elementary schools. The building of an additional elementary school will accommodate the

Capital Levy to Construct and Renovate School Facilities FUTURE PLANNING

New Elementary School at Sartori site Land Acquisition for Future Schools Portable Classrooms

SCHOOL BUILDING UPGRADES Replace Roofs, Gutters and Downspouts Window and Door Replacement/Upgrades Exterior Repair and Paint Corridor, Commons and Gymnasium Upgrades Courtyard Upgrades Electrical Upgrades Mechanical/ Plumbing Upgrades

SCHOOL RELATED IMPROVEMENTS Safety & Security Improvements Parking Lot Repairs Track and Field Upgrades Upgrade Playground Equipment Upgrade Readerboards

ENERGY CONSERVATION Boiler and Heat Pump Upgrades Domestic Water Upgrades Ventilation Upgrades Building Controls Upgrades

TECHNOLOGY IN EVERY SCHOOL & CLASSROOM Additional classroom laptops and devices to support all students Modernizing teacher laptops Teacher & Parent data tools to track student progress Professional development to integrate technology in teaching and learning Additional wireless capacity to meet increasing demand

Total Project Costs: $155,500,000

School enrollment projections to 2024

Based on County births and population trends, grade roll-up and local housing

large number of current and future kindergarten through 5th-grade students as they move into the district. This will reduce student populations at the district’s other elementary schools.

What will these measures cost?

Due to the increased number of families and businesses that have moved into the district, along with retiring debt, taxes to pay for these important school funding measures are spread out among more people and businesses, meaning tax rates for individuals will not increase. Collection of funding from both approved measures is estimated to cost district taxpayers $5.45 per $1,000 of assessed property value: The same amount paid in 2016; so there is no tax-rate increase.

Measure 1 is a replacement levy, replacing the current classroom and school funding measure that expires this year and requires voter approval to continue for the next three years. It is not a new tax. Measure 2 has been structured, along with Measure 1, so that it does not change the current tax rate for district families and taxpayers, even while raising the necessary funding to replace

Even with the passing of t he two measures on Feb. 9, tax rates projected to remain the same through 2019 Year

Replacement Year Educational Programs Levy

(New levy to build new elementary school renovations at other schools; Technology funding for every classroom)

2016 2017 2018 2019

Total Tax Rate

Capital Facilities Levy

$2.39 $2.62 $2.73 $2.85

(old debt being paid off each year)

$3.06 $5.45 $1.40 $1.43 $5.45 $1.34 $1.38 $5.45 $1.25 $1.35 $5.45

the technology levy, build an additional elementary school and complete work at some larger, older school buildings.

Senior citizens (age 61+), disabled individuals, and some veterans, may

be eligible for a residential property tax exemption. Learn more at the King County Assessor Web site (www.kingcounty.gov/ Assessor/TaxpayerAssistance/TaxRelief) or call 206-296-3920.

Two important school funding measures for Renton School District students, teachers, support staff and education on Feb. 9 ballot Measure 1: Replacement Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations Levy provides more than 26 cents of every dollar spent in classrooms, for student learning, teacher training and other school operations each year, including: • classroom materials, • textbooks, • lower class size, • teacher salaries, • school support staff, • school building maintenance, • school bus transportation, fuel and maintenance, • school lunches, • music, theater and arts, • athletics and more.

• This is not a new tax: It replaces a measure that expires in 2016

Measure 2: Building for a Lifetime of Learning School Capital Facilities Levy funds three important elements: 1. build a much-needed new elementary school at the site of Sartori Education Center, 315 Garden Ave, North, Renton, to help eliminate much of the congestion at current district elementary schools; 2. allow improvements and renovations on many existing schools throughout the district such as roof, floors and boiler replacements; improvements in windows and classroom climate controls; safety and security; playground and parking lot repairs, and much more; and 3. fund the district’s comprehensive Technology Program which brings 21st Century learning tools and technology into every classroom, integrates technology into instruction, and provides teachers with training and classroom technology that will enhance teaching and learning. This is also a replacement levy, replacing one that expires in 2016.

These measures combined will not increase tax rates.

Renton School District | 300 SW 7th Street, Renton WA 98057 | 425.204.2345 | www.rentonschools.us www.facebook.com/renton.schools | twitter.com/Renton_Schools | www.youtube.com/user/RentonSchoolDistrict