Technology levy improves Vashon education
Steve DeWalt
The Vashon Island School District recently received a Technology Levy for nearly 2.7 million dollars. The Technology Levy, approved by Island voters in November, increases existing property taxes to support the increased need for technology and facility improvements within our district. The levy is planned to span three years with the money spread out proportionately at a rate of $900,000 per year for 2010, 2011, and 2012.
The levy will be used for pressing repairs and maintenance on infrastructure between Chautauqua, McMurray, and the High School as well as technology upgrades. The money has not been earmarked for specific uses, nor will it most likely be evenly split between the three schools. In the words of Principal Susan Hanson, the money will go, “wherever the need is greatest.”
The high school’s old P.A. system has been malfunctioning since the beginning of this school year. It was too old to be fixed without ordering specially manufactured parts that may or may not work, so the new Technology Levy was used to purchase the new P.A. system which was recently installed.
The majority of the Technology Levy funds will be used for “back-end improvements”, or the areas of the schools that are not regularly seen but are essential to their operation. For example, wireless access throughout the high school campus is actively being broadened along with the security level of the network. Also, a portion of the levy’s funding will go towards interactive boards, more commonly known as Smart Boards, which combine technology with the accessibility of a whiteboard, sort of like an interactive whiteboard-sized computer screen. These boards are intended for Mr. Sears’ and Mr. Krauss’ math classrooms.
