Voters in the Battle Ground school district appeared on the brink of passing a four-year, $136.54 million replacement levy in Tuesday’s special election.
Initial returns showed the levy passing with 51.28 percent support — a slim difference of 346 votes.
That was good news to Mark Ross, currently the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Ross, who will replace Mark Hottowe as district superintendent next year, said it’s “looking like a victory” for the north Clark County district.
“It always feels good to be on the yes side,” he said.
Voters last fall rejected another school funding measure in the district: an $80 million bond that would have replaced several schools. It appears, however, that a majority of Battle Ground voters support school funding measures; 55.43 percent of Battle Ground voters supported last year’s bond, but bonds require a 60 percent supermajority to pass. Levies need only a simple majority.
Assuming Tuesday’s levy passes, the district will see $31.7 million in 2018, $33.3 million in 2019, $34.9 in 2020 and $36.7 in 2021. The largest portion of that, about $29.8 million each year, goes toward staff, educational programs and transportation. District officials say those services — including the hiring of additional teachers, school psychologists and nurses — are crucial for the success of students.
