School levies pass in Washougal

Washougal School District officials are celebrating today as both district levies passed by significant margins.

“I am extremely appreciative of the support of the community,” said Dawn Tarzian, superintendent. “Levy dollars bridge the critical gap between our state allocation and the basic program needs for our students.”

Added Les Brown, technology director, “I’m super excited that voters supported the increase in our technology levy.”

As part of the Feb. 11 election, the district asked voters to approve replacement maintenance and operations and technology levies that included significantly higher rates than in years past.

“As a result of this levy support, we will immediately begin the work of preparing to implement all day kindergarten at all elementary schools for the coming fall,” Tarzian said. “We will also prepare for enhancing our buildings for increased student and staff safety, develop student intervention programs for students in need of support and for those ready to excel, and we will be putting technology tools into the hands of our students.”

Brown mentioned that a technology committee will meet later this month to plan the roll-out of of its one-to-one tablet initiative, which will include students in fifth- through eighth-grade by the 2014-15 school year. It will be expanded into the high school and lower grades during the following two years after that.

“The tech committee will make sure we include staff, parent and community member perspectives as we work to put powerful tools into the hands of students and teachers, and we hope to see a major shift in the types of learning activities that are possible with these new tools,” he said.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, current tabulations have the M&O levy passing by 58.24 percent, while the technology levy is passing with 61.28 percent. (Results include Skamania and Clark counties). The propositions needed at least 50 percent support to pass.

In the Mount Pleasant School District, election results as of Wednesday show its maintenance and operations replacement levy failing by earning only 42.7 percent support. A total of 89 ballots had been counted.