Dear South Bend voters:

Feb. 13 South Bend voters will be asked to approve the replacement of the our four-year maintenance and operation levy for the SB School District.

We currently have a maintenance and operation levy in place — this new one will simply replace the old one. Additionally, these levy dollars will qualify the district for state levy equalization monies, which are free grant dollars to the district. Together, these monies amount to more than $1.1 million!

These levy dollars help teachers and staff continue to give our kids the 21st century education they deserve at South Bend. While the state is providing more money today, it still does not cover what it costs to educate our kids in this day and age. These dollars help pay for books, supplies, food programs, special education, and extracurricular activities/groups, to name a few things.

I can personally assure you that the South Bend School Board is a great steward of your money and always looks out for the best interest of our kids and our taxpayers alike. The amount of state and outside grant money secured for new building construction, athletic facilities and programs by the district has been amazing. and has helped provide perhaps the best school campus for a school this size in the state of Washington.

Your ballot should arrive in the mail around Jan. 26 — please vote right away! Please show your support for our SB kids and vote yes! Thank you!

Yours in Kids Always,

MIKE MORRIS

Retired South Bend superintendent

School levy chairman