Chamber Supports Shelton School District Replacement Levy
The Chamber has long been a supporter of strong schools in our community. The business community recognizes the importance of high performing schools in attracting new employers as well as in hiring and retaining great employees.
We encourage and support programs such as Career Academies at Shelton High School that develop alternative models for instructional delivery and that are designed intentionally to meet employer needs with regard to rigor, specificity, and timeliness. We also understand that school programs, including career and technical education, job shadowing, and internships, provide a foundation for local businesses to hire students and meet future workforce demands, preparing students for jobs and careers.
As the state continues its struggle to amply fund education, we know that local levies are an important component of funding our schools. Because competitive schools are critical to our community, the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the upcoming Shelton School District replacement levy and urges voters to vote yes.
The levy will replace a tax set to expire at the end of 2023 that provides approximately eleven percent of the total district budget. This replacement levy funds educational programs and services, facilities maintenance, and student transportation. It also supports classroom teachers, counselors and nurses, after school clubs and athletics, and safety personnel. Passing the levy will result in approximately $3 million per year of additional funding from the state through levy equalization, that otherwise would be unavailable to the district. This replacement levy is a critical component of basic education in our schools. The Chamber strongly believes that high performing schools are dependent upon this replacement levy and it is necessary to ensure our future success.
The Chamber urges voters to give a resounding “YES” to schools in the upcoming Shelton School District replacement levy election.
Find more information on the replacement levy at sheltonschools.org or download the SSD Levy Facts Sheet.