December 28, 2023

We ask you to join us once again in pledging our support to the students and staff of the Ocean Beach School District by voting YES on both of the upcoming replacement levies. Ballots will be mailed in late January and election day is February 13, 2024. It is important to distinguish that these are levies (for learning), not a bond (for building). We did not support the most recent bond measure as we felt the dollar amount ($96 million) was excessive and much of the plan focused on wants, not needs. We are confident both of these levy measures fit in the need category for OBSD students!

The voters of this district have historically shown their support for our students by continuously providing financial support for our community school model, access to current technology for every student, and our amazing extra-curricular opportunities. Providing students with these opportunities takes financial support above and beyond what the state provides in funding the prototypical school model. We are proud to live in a community that has shown over and over again that it is willing to step up and provide our students with what they need to be well rounded and succeed.

The Technology Levy funds are specifically used for technology equipment (such as Chromebooks for students), software, network safety/infrastructure, systems and staff directly employed for the technological needs of the district. Many of you have seen the amazing innovations that are in place in many of our classrooms and being championed by our talented staff members thanks to this funding stream as well as outside funding sought through grant and donation opportunities.

The EP&O Levy (formerly called the M&O Levy), provides the crucial funds it takes to be able to offer all of our students the amazing extra-curricular activities which help keep them engaged with their education and discover their passions, which leads to learning opportunities above and beyond what can be offered strictly in a classroom setting. I encourage you to talk to a student or staff member of the OBSD and learn about the vast array of options available to students, there truly is something available for each and every student far beyond the easily visible music and athletics, such as robotics, Culture Club, and SkillsUSA. This levy also provides funding for the additional FTE’s it takes to staff our four school buildings as the prototypical school model does not account for this. We encourage you to take the next few weeks to learn more about these levies so that when your ballot arrives in the mail in late January you can be ready to vote YES and put it right back in the mail before it gets stuck in that pile on the countertop!

Brian & Marilyn Sheldon

Ocean Park, WA