Ridgefield resident Megan Dudley offers her support for the upcoming Ridgefield schools levy proposition
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Things are changing in the Ridgefield School District. Our new superintendent, Dr. Jenny Rodriguez, and the school board have been working hard to listen to the community on many issues, especially about what voters want in an elementary school. They have been unafraid to talk about complex problems and to have conversations with people who have historically voted down bonds and levies.
The new Capital and Technology Levy (Proposition 13) on the Feb 11 election resulted from hours of soliciting voter feedback through surveys, town halls, one-on-one meetings, coffee talks, and more. Concerned citizens asked that improvements such as high school track resurfacing and turf replacement be removed, and they have been. By reducing the size of the school and taking out aspects that voters deemed non-essential, accessing state funds, and maximizing impact fees, this proposal is fiscally responsible and financially savvy.
It’s no secret that Ridgefield elementary schools have been overcrowded for many years. We have relied on portables to meet the students’ classroom needs, but the buildings were not built for the number of students they serve. This means all spaces, such as the hallways, cafeterias, gyms, and playgrounds, are overcrowded. It is too late for my children to benefit from a new elementary school, but I am hopeful that for the students to come, they will finally have enough space to meet their needs.
Because Proposition 13 is a capital levy instead of a bond, the term is shorter, reducing the burden on taxpayers and the total interest we pay. Yes, there will be a tax increase, but it is for a limited time, and it gets us an elementary school built with the smallest impact on taxpayers. As more people and businesses move into the school district, this tax burden will continue to decrease per property.
Although other Clark County school districts are shrinking, Ridgefield is not and is not projected to. Neighborhoods are still springing up, seemingly overnight, especially on the east side of Ridgefield, where the new elementary would be.
Prop 13 includes needed annual funding for technology such as Chromebooks and overdue repair of leaking roofs at the two existing elementary schools.
Proposition 12 is also on the ballot in February. It is an Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy that replaces the current EP&O levy. There is no overlap between the two. This levy supports athletics, outdoor school for 5th graders, after-school programs, performing arts, and student clubs. It closes the widening gap for special education between what the state funds and what our students need.
Please vote yes on Propositions 12 & 13. The school district crafted these levies with a broad swath of community input. These propositions are innovative, pared down, and just what we need right now.
Megan Dudley
Ridgefield
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