levy update

Voters in Kalama School District have approved a replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy that will maintain and enhance school programs, operations and services that are either not funded or not fully-funded by the state. A preliminary ballot count shows more than ­62 percent of voters supported the levy.

Passage of the local levy will provide approximately $2.4 million in annual funds to Kalama’s public schools over the next three years.

“With the utmost gratitude and appreciation, we want thank the Kalama community,” said KSD Superintendent Eric Nerison. “This vote represents the tenacity of our community and their deep commitment to our students; It means we can have our new elementary school building staffed appropriately and we can keep the staff we currently have. We're very humbled and grateful. Now, it's our responsibility to be the absolute best stewards of these resources so our community will continue their legacy of support for Kalama students.”

The replacement levy will continue to support the following:

• Art & music
• Woodshop
• Natural Resources
• Technology
• Classroom supplies
• Athletics & coaching
• Advanced placement courses
• Custodial/maintenance staff
• Chinook Station
• Food service
• Crossing guards
• Substitute teachers
• Background checks & fingerprinting for staff and volunteers
• Interpretation services
• Unfunded Special Education costs

More information on the replacement levy is available at www.kalamaschools.org/o/ksd/page/levy-information.

Related: Kalama, Woodland school districts pass replacement levy Tuesday (The Daily News)