
An in-depth look at the two levy requests put before voters by the Washougal School District
Editor’s note: Former Clark County Councilor and long-time Clark County resident Dick Rylander conducts a great deal of research on public education in the area, region and state and shares his findings on his blog, swweducation.org. Rylander recently compiled in-depth analysis on the levy requests on the Feb. 14 special election ballot from the Vancouver, Washougal and Woodland school districts. Here is the information he has gathered on the two levy requests made by the Washougal School District.

Washougal School District has two (2) items on the February 14 special election ballot. The first is a new Enhanced Operations Levy and the other is a new Capital Levy for Technology, Health and Safety.
In this article, we’ll share links to the Clark County Elections Department, the Washougal School District and provide some analysis to try and clear up any gray areas. If you don’t want to click the links and do a deep dive we’ll share the essentials below. Let’s get started.
Clark County Elections Dept link: EP&O Levy statement (Proposition 10): https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2022-12/Washougal%20School%20District%20No.%20112-6%20-%20Resolution%20No.%202022-23-03%20%28Proposition%20No.%2010%29_0.pdf
Clark County Elections Dept link: Technology, health and safety Capital Levy (Proposition 11) – https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2022-12/Washougal%20School%20District%20No.%20112-6%20-%20Resolution%20No.%202022-23-04%20%28Proposition%20No.%2011%29_0.pdf
Washougal School District website: http://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/district-budget-information/levy/
Clark County Elections Voters pamphlet (online version): https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2022-12/Washougal%20School%20District%20No.%20112-6%20-%20Prop%20No.%2010%20-%20Replacement%20Educational%20Programs%20and%20Operations%20%26%20Prop%20No.%2011%20-%20Replacement%20Capital%20Levy%20for%20Educational%20Tech%2C%20Health%20and%20Safety%20Imp%20%20.pdf
So let’s get to the essentials in case you don’t want to work through all the links.
There are two propositions: 10 and 11. Following is the essential info on each:
Proposition 10: Enhanced Operations Levy



Discussion:
- We all understand the need for money to stay even with inflation. We all understand the need to support students with good tools.
- We all want the very best for our children. We love great teachers.
- They want you to focus on the “rate” per $1000 of assessed value which is a red herring. You need to focus on the amount of money they are asking for. If your property value goes up the “rate” goes down but the amount of money collected stays the same. If your property value drops the “rate” goes up but the amount collected stays the same. They want to use a magician’s trick and direct your attention in one area while the sleight of hand is done.
- Test scores are poor: 46.7% are failing ELA (English Language Arts); 62.7% are failing math and 52.9% are failing science. For all the money you give them the scores continue to fall…why throw more good money after bad?
- Student population has fallen 6.1% in the past 3 years.
- The amount spent per student has doubled in the last 10 years. The average across the State is approaching $20,000 per student.
- Over 52% of your current property taxes go to schools…how much more is needed and what will the outcomes you can measure be?

Proposition 11



Discussion:
- This “capital levy” is a 246% increase
- You are being asked to approve two (2) levy’s totalling over $40 million. Rather than ask 1x they split to make it appear the amounts are smaller.
- See the comments above
Summary:
- The real questions?
- Can you afford to pay more?
- Are you getting the results you expect and should from all the money spent?
Here are links to other articles about the WSD:
Other data and information sources:
Also read:
- High school football: Defense sets the stage for Mountain View victorySure, there were nine touchdowns scored in Mountain View’s win over Evergreen, but defensive gems, especially early in the game, led the Thunder to a victory in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League.
- Camas Lake Water Management Plan to clean lakes revealedCamas City Unveils $4.1 Million 10-Year Water Management Plan for Lacamas Lake, Targeting Phosphorus Pollution.
- Washington panel considers outlawing community notification of sex offendersThe State Sex Offender Policy Board is considering recommendations to the Legislature that could include making it illegal to notify communities when a sex offender moves into the area on the grounds that such policies undermine public safety.
- Opinion: Free-market health care innovations should be used to make lives better, not expand government powerElizabeth Hovde of the Washington Policy Center believes congressional and state policymakers need to find constructive solutions to concerns over new technologies in health care.
- Playground at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park to close Monday for surfacing upgradeThe playground at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park will temporarily close Monday (Oct. 2) and could remain closed through Fri., Oct. 20, to accommodate the installation of new poured-in-place rubber surfacing.
- Clark County Today Sports Podcast, Episode 15: A discussion on sideline behavior in regard to Seton Catholic-Stevenson issue; plus a look at rivalry gamesSeton Catholic and Stevenson officials have worked out a “positive resolution” to an issue the schools dealt with last week, plus the Mountain View-Evergreen rivalry is about to play its 50th football game.
- High school football: Milestone meeting between rivals Evergreen and Mountain ViewEvergreen and Mountain View renew their long football rivalry as the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League season begins in Week 5 of the the season.
No, No and no. A few years ago the Camas Library brought a levy (I think it was called a levy). Anyway, they wanted to build a new library. A Taj mahal, a palace. The voters said forget i!!. Come back with a reasonable request and you’ll get your improved library. So, the Camas politicians did that and got the money to renovate and expand the nice library we have now. A couple years ago the politicians decided we need a new swimming pool. They came to the voters with an outrageous plan to build a water kingdom! The voters said heck no and this time they tossed the mayor out of office!! A cautionary tale. The Vancouver School District needs to roll up their sleeves and get those test scores up! Send them a message… you get more money when our kids get a quality education.
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