With more votes counted, one of the Kent School District levies is passing while the other one is still failing.
Proposition No. 1, the Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs and Operations Levy, is ahead by 436 votes, according to King County Election results released Monday, Nov. 13. The measure has 50.78% (14,170) yes votes and 49.22% (13,734) no votes.
It was a big rally for the measure, which had 52.16% no votes on Nov. 7, 51.85% on Nov. 8 and 50.81% on Nov. 9.
Proposition No. 2, the Capital Projects and Technology Levy, has 51.21% (14,102) no votes and 48.79% (13,437) yes votes. The measure had 54.20% no votes on Nov. 7, 54.01% on Nov. 8 and 53% on Nov. 9.
Both measures require 50% voter approval.
There are only about 500 or so ballots left to count in the Kent School District, according to a Nov. 10 email from Halei Watkins, communications manager for King County Elections. That number of ballots dropped on Nov. 13.
Ben Rarick, district executive director of budget and finance, said the Educational Programs and Operations Levy will fund about 15% of the general fund, including monies for athletics, music and arts, which are not funded by the state. The levy also would fund special education, advanced learning programs and multilingual education.
The Capital Projects and Tech Levy would fund the district’s 1-to-1 laptop program, which provides a laptop to each student in the district, and pay to modernize safety systems, including intrusion and fire alarms. Monies also would be used to upgrade HVAC systems, roof and boiler replacements, installation of synthetic fields at high schools, new flooring, paint and expand the preschool program to each elementary school.
Superintendent Israel Vela said at the Nov. 8 Kent School Board meeting that staff will monitor the results.
“In the event the levies do not pass, together with our school board we will look at all options and evaluate our next steps,” Vela said.
There are no more board meetings in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The next board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13.
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