POSTA

L CU

STOM

ER

Please Vote ByFebruary 11, 2020

Toutle Lake School District

5050 Spirit Lake Hw

yToutle, W

A 98649-9701

Dear Toutle Lake School District Patrons:

Your school board and school staff are striving to build a culture of hope, for all of our students and staff members alike. Please remember to vote no later than February 11, 2020; as Toutle Lake School District has an important replacement measure on the ballot.

A group of us have been gleaning “nuggets of wisdom” from the work of Robert Barr and Emily Gibson in their book, Building a Culture of Hope. It is about replacing helplessness with hopefulness, and emphasizes social and emotional growth to help all of our students succeed in the classroom and ultimately find a pathway to a better life. While we face challenges, we want to approach those challenges from an optimistic, positive perspective.

Barr and Gibson share that there are four seeds of hope: a sense of Optimism; a sense of Belonging; a sense of Pride, Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence; and a sense of Purpose. On Feb. 11th, the voters within Toutle Lake School District will be asked to vote on a ballot proposition that would authorize the district to provide educational experiences that nurture the potential of every student; and that all students know that they belong and will be assisted in pursuing their dreams.

Unfortunately, Washington State does not fully fund basic education programs as they currently operate. Thus there is a need for school districts to ask local voters to pick up the cost of education that the state (and federal) governments do not fully fund. This flyer will hopefully provide the information that you will need to become an informed voter. Should you have any questions, however, feel free to give me a call, send an email or attend the school board meeting at 7p.m. on Monday, January 27, in the high school library.

Thank you for all that you do for the youth of Toutle Lake School District. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 360-274-6182 or by email at bgarrett@toutlesd.org.

Sincerely,Bob Garrett, Superintendent

Go D

ucks!

Message from the Superintendent TOUTLE LAKE

SCHOOL DISTRICTYour Replacement Educational

Programs and Operational Levy Guide

Our robotics club is just one example of our many extracurricular programs that are partially funded by our levy.

Toutle Lake School District,

where w

e are striving to build a

culture of hope; one day at a time.

NO

N-PRO

FIT ORG

AN

IZATION

BULK RATE, PERM

IT #2U

.S. POSTAG

E PAID

TOU

TLE WA

98649

What you need to know about the replacement levyHow has state funding for education changed in the last year?

Changes to the way schools are funded was implemented by the Washington State legislature in 2018, following the state Supreme Court ruling that Washington had not been meeting its paramount duty to fully fund basic education for decades. While it resulted in an increase of state funding to education, the ability for districts to fund education locally was dramatically reduced, resulting in significant financial challenges for many school districts.

How have the state funded changes affected the Toutle Lake School District?

In 2017, the Toutle Lake voters approved a levy at an estimated tax rate of $3.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This measure was to collect $1,110,000 over each of the next three years. With the state funding changes, local communities could impose a levy no more than $1.50 per $1,000 for collection in 2019. Consequently, the district lost approximately $400,000 in local tax revenue that year, as well as an amount over $100,000 in local levy assistance from the state.

How much will the replacement levy cost property owners?

The replacement levy will cost taxpayers $2.50 per $1,000 assessed value. This will allow the district to collect the full amount of $1,110,000 in 2020, but it does not allow for the district to recoup what it lost in 2019.

1

2

3

4

5

Why is the district asking for approval of a replacement levy?

Replacement levy (also called an enrichment levy) funds help bridge the gap between what the state pays for education and what it actually costs to run a school district. The Toutle Lake School District is running a four-year replacement levy that will go before voters on February 11th. This is not a new tax; but is simply the continuation of an existing tax. The proposed levy for collection years 2021-2024, will fund programs in our district that are not entirely funded by the state.

Replacement Levy Proposed Costs

Collection Year Estimated Levy Rate/

$1,000 Assessed Value Levy Amount

2021 $2.50 $1,358,225

2022 $2.50 $1,453,300

2023 $2.50 $1,555,030

2024 $2.50 $1,663,885

What will the levy continue to pay for?

Levy dollars make up 13% of the district’s overall budget.

Levy dollars would be used for: » Tech director, Security officer, Office staff, Para-educators,

Custodians and Maintenance staff

» Extracurricular programs including athletics, robotics, FFA, pep band, Knowledge Bowl and their related transportation costs

» Materials, supplies and operating costs for basic education (such as text book adoptions and Chromebooks for students)

» Materials, supplies and operating costs for support programs (such as utilities, liability insurance, phone and bell system, and security cameras)

» Reinstatement of business education program for secondary students

» Special education

» Substitute teachers and substitute basic education employees

» Food services program

» Modular classroom building to assist with lowering class sizes

FOR MORE INFORMATIONPlease visit our website at www.toutlesd.org for more information and to access the link to the Cowlitz County Online Voters’ Guide. Under the title of our proposition, you will see three “buttons” - one “Information”, one “Explanatory Statement” and one “Arguments For and Against”. Or contact Superintendent Bob Garrett by phone at (360) 274-6182 or by email at bgarrett@toutlesd.org.

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTEWashington State Elections offers three ways to register:Register online before January 24 at www.myvote.wa.gov Register in person at: 207 N 4th Ave, Kelso, WA 98626Register by mail by sending in your Voter Registration form to the Cowlitz Country Assessors Office.

TAX EXEMPTIONSDisabled persons or those 61 years of age or older may be eligible for a tax exemption. For more information, contact the Assessor’s Office in Cowlitz County (360-577-3010).

PLEASE VOTE NO LATER THAN FEB 11TH!Ballots will be mailed out January 24, 2020

Levy funds help reduce class sizes.