It’s looking like another victory for Evergreen Public Schools, as the district’s narrow lead in two school levies extended with the release of new results.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 51.5 percent of voters in the district favored the three-year, $105.9 million educational program levy. That’s up from 50.3 percent on Election Night.
That levy will pay for athletics, performing arts, school safety programs and additional staff above what the state currently funds.
The district’s six-year, $59.3 million technology levy was also passing with 51.6 percent support, up from 50.5 percent on Tuesday. The levy will pay for digital curriculum, maintaining student devices and improved security technology.
There’s about a 700-vote count between the yes and no votes for both levies, and with 700 votes still left to count in all school districts, the latest results suggest both measures will pass.
“I’m feeling a bit more relieved that we got the yes votes in both of them,” said Julie Bocanegra, president of the Evergreen school board. “We can breathe easy a little bit.”
Small city districts
The biggest change in the small cities after Wednesday’s results came in La Center, where the school district’s replacement three-year educational programs and operations levy increased its narrow lead. The levy sat at 51.45 percent in favor as of Tuesday night, which increased to 53.02 percent Wednesday. Levy dollars are used for extracurricular activities, technology, food service, transportation, maintenance, career and technical education and music.
Ridgefield School District’s $77 million bond is still trailing after Wednesday, needing a 60 percent supermajority to pass. The bond was at 57.3 percent in favor Tuesday night, a figure that inched up to 57.8 percent after Wednesday’s results. Superintendent Nathan McCann said he was optimistic after Tuesday’s results, but knew making up the difference would be tough.
Hockinson School District ran two levies Tuesday night, both of which are still failing after Wednesday’s results. The district’s replacement three-year levy has 47.11 percent in favor as of Wednesday afternoon, with 1,262 votes for and 1,417 votes against. The district also ran a three-year capital levy for technology and school improvement, which sits at 45.84 percent in favor as of Wednesday.
Prior to the election, Superintendent Sandra Yager said if the levies didn’t pass, the district might have to make some cuts.
“Although this ‘no’ vote is disappointing for our school district and will require us to make some difficult decisions, this also is an opportunity for our community to engage in important conversations,” Yager said in a release sent out Wednesday morning.
Adam Littman: 360-735-4518; adam.littman@columbian.com; twitter.com/a_littman
