We are voting yes on both Ocean Beach School District’s levy requests that will be on the ballot in February. Here are five reasons why we are supporting these levies:

1. State funding does not pay for everything our schools provide students. Programs such as music, art, drama, athletics, technology, as well as needed additional staffing are all paid for by these two levies. These levy funds provide opportunities that help students learn valuable lessons and enrich their learning experiences giving them the best start in life.

2. These two new levies will begin in 2025 after the current levies expire at the end of 2024. Therefore, these are replacement levies that will allow the schools to continue to provide what is currently being offered students.

3. At the projected rate of 92¢ per thousand of assessed value for the operations levy and 19¢ per thousand for the technology levy, we looked at our county tax statement and determined that the local school taxes we pay now will not increase from what we are currently paying by voting yes on these measures.

4. Just like the fire department, the hospital, and our roads, schools are an essential part of our community. Imagine the long-term impact of not supporting our fire department, the hospital, or not maintaining our roads would have on our community. Schools are no different. A well supported school system is essential to having the quality community we enjoy living in.

5. Even though we did not attend the Ocean Beach School District in our youth, we did benefit greatly from the adults where we did grow up who paid for the services we received as students. We believe it is our responsibility as citizens to repay this gift given to us when we were young by supporting our schools now to provide the services and opportunities today’s youth need.

Supporting the two OBSD school levy requests on the Feb. 13 ballot is not only the right thing to do for students, it also is a wise choice to keep our schools strong and our community a great place to live. Please join us in voting yes on both the Ocean Beach School District operations levy and technology levy requests.

MARK and DEBBIE MANSELL

Ocean Park