Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | A ‘paramount duty’ can’t run on bake sales and band fees
Washington’s constitution is clear: public education is the state’s paramount duty. That promise should not depend on which communities can pass the biggest local levies.
Yet across our state, districts are being pushed into a corner. Costs rise and needs rise, but too often state funding doesn’t keep pace — especially for special education, student transportation, and the basic costs of running schools. When those core obligations fall short, local school districts are forced to plug funding gaps with levies.
David Olson
That isn’t “extra.” Levies increasingly backfill what families assume is already funded: classroom supports, intervention staff, bus drivers, safety supports, and the programs that keep kids connected to school such as athletics, music, drama, debate, and clubs. When districts can’t pass levies, students and families pay the price.
You can see what this can look like in the real world. Yelm School District’s Washington State Report Card shows warning signs that should concern any voter — attendance challenges, graduation rates under pressure, and declining enrollment. Districts don’t spiral overnight; they slide when resources don’t match responsibilities.
Here in the Peninsula School District, we’ve worked hard to deliver results — improving literacy, strengthening student supports, and managing taxpayer dollars responsibly. But we cannot protect student outcomes if we pretend local levies are optional. They are now a necessary stabilizer that keeps programs intact while the state continues debating how to meet its constitutional duty.
That’s why I’m urging Peninsula voters to approve the 2026 Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy. This is about maintaining what our students rely on every day — safe, welcoming schools; strong academic outcomes; and the opportunities that help kids belong and succeed. A yes vote protects what students need now while Olympia struggles with a long-term fix.
Please vote YES and return your ballot by February 10. Our students deserve a public school system that keeps its promises – both statewide and right here at home.
David Olson
Gig Harbor