School superintendents split on levy bill
A bill that would allow school districts to raise more money through levies is opposed by some school superintendents who say it would widen the gap between rich districts and poor ones.
Seattle Times education reporter
As they consider another year of big funding cuts for public schools, some state lawmakers want to soften that blow by allowing districts to do more to help themselves.
Yet they face opposition from some of the very people they aim to help. A number of school superintendents, including 33 in Northwest Washington, oppose a bill that would allow them to raise more money from their local taxpayers.
The reason is equity. While rich districts could benefit, the superintendents say the measure would leave poorer ones further behind.
"There are some legislators who are in some very affluent areas who ... just want it, and to heck with everyone else. I'm really irritated about it," said Superintendent Nick Brossoit of the Edmonds School District.
Even though his district could gain, he says he "wouldn't want to see benefits to my community at the expense of others in the state."
Proponents of the bill — including the association representing all superintendents in the state — say it's a stopgap measure that would help poorer districts, too, by adding money to what's called the "levy