Keep Riverside schools strong

Vote yes for kids in Riverside schools.

Voters in the Riverside School District will make an important decision April 17 that will affect each of our 1,525 students.

The Washington state Supreme Court ruled in January 2012 that: “The State has failed to meet its duty … by consistently providing school districts with a level of resources that falls short of the actual costs of the basic education program” (McCleary v. State of Washington).

A “yes” vote will support many popular programs that state funding does not. Examples include elective courses in medical sciences, music, advanced courses, welding and wood shop.

The district has taken big steps to cut costs, starting with overhead. Administrative salaries were decreased by 3 percent. Teacher salaries were reduced by 1.9 percent. It reduced both classified and teaching positions.

Many of you are proud of our graduation rate of 94.5 percent, which ranks in the top one-third of all districts in Washington. Still, there is more work to do to increase skills.

Help us do this by supporting a conservative budget that funds a program designed to give all of our kids a leg up on life.

Dan McMahon

Deer Park