Our children’s future is at risk and so is the investment we have already made as a community in education.

North Kitsap voters have done their part to support education by faithfully approving bonds and school levy requests. But now, the State of Washington may not be able to fully fund their portion of our children’s education costs due to a $2.2 billion budget shortfall.

This is not the first time the Legislature has faced a budget deficit. Last year Legislators plugged a $1.5 billion funding shortfall with budget cuts and a one-time tobacco fund windfall. Last year, the state’s budget cuts caused us to significantly reduce educational programs and services for our children. Similar or even larger budget cuts this year will cause a real erosion of the quality educational programs we have created together. If the state further reduces its funding to education, we could lose important gains we have already made, such as smaller class sizes and curriculum improvement.

State budget projections also tell us that large budget deficits are not a “one-year” problem — the state’s revenues are expected to be low for the next several years. Additional funding cuts could occur for several more years until there is a stable funding source for education.

We are very concerned about how continuing state funding cuts will impact our children’s future and the investment we have already made in education. A stable state-funding source for education must be found to protect our children’s future and protect our investment in education.

North Kitsap School District Board of Directors

• Bethany McDonald, President
• Brad Camp, Vice President
• Catherine Ahl, Legislative Representative
• Richard Endresen, Director
• Helen Hoover, Director
• Eugene J. Medina, Superintendent

North Kitsap Collective Bargaining Groups

• Bonnie Vahcic, President

North Kitsap Education Association

• Steve Swearingen, President

Transportation Employees/CPEA

• Chris Willits, President

North Kitsap School Administrators Association

• Ron Lee, President

North Kitsap Classified Administrators and Supervisors

• Dave Fleider, President

Service Employees International

• Toni Hartley, Co- President

PSE of North Kitsap

• Leah Titze, Co-President

PSE of North Kitsap Parent/Teacher Associations

• Therese Caldwell, President

PTSA Council of North Kitsap.