Education is the number one priority in our family, and I would like to see our schools as well funded as possible. However, I am amazed by the size of the technology levy being proposed by the school district, and I am appalled by the method by which this number – $5.275 million – was arrived at.

You might think that the district took the time to ask their teachers and IT staff what is needed in the classrooms and tally up the total, but you would be wrong.

To arrive at this number, after reading the school board’s own meeting minutes, it looks as though the district simply took the amount of the levy approved (barely) by voters four years ago ($6.1 million) and subtracted the amount they expect to raise from another ballot proposal – a levy lid lift.

(Editor’s note: The supplemental operations levy, as the levy lid lift is called by BISD, will be used for teaching and instructional support).

Glaring in omission from this method is ANY accounting of need. They simply acted as though they are entitled to the same amount as four years ago.

Four years ago I voiced my disapproval of the levy based on the fact that for the most part gimmicky technology does little to improve educational performance, and that the lifespan of most technological gadgets are disturbingly short. I warned at that time that in four years the district would come calling again to replace their new, outdated equipment.

Nothing has changed with these arguments. But for the district to put so little work into this most recent proposal is highly disturbing. At a time when many island families are struggling to make ends meet, and many wage earners are taking second jobs to pay the bills, the lack of effort put forth by the district in asking for our money is, IMHO, insulting.

With the levy proposal on our ballots this fall, I urge you to vote a loud NO (the levy lid lift is another matter, by the way). Then, when the tech levy fails, give something (if you can) to the Bainbridge Island Schools Foundation.

At least this way your hard-earned contribution will be well spent to help pay a teacher’s salary, not to give a blank check to the district to buy more unneeded gadgets, which, of course, will be obsolete by the time the ink dries on that blank check.

Steve Keller

Bainbridge Island