Support replacement levy

I am the mother of two students at Ridgeview Elementary, where I volunteer frequently. I see the effort and dedication of the entire staff, including custodial, secretarial and administrative personnel. I have also seen the negative effects of lack of funding, such as the loss of a first-grade teacher during the third week of school.

Teachers, with up to 28 students in a class, are stretched thin trying to meet each student’s needs as well as keeping up with other mandated tasks, such as frequent student assessments. If the staff is putting in the extra effort, we, the community, should continue to provide them with the resources they need.

It takes a dedicated team of individuals willing to work together to provide a safe and productive environment. Part of this team includes the community. Our community will either reap the benefits of students prepared to enter the workforce and becoming contributing members of our society or face the consequences of them being ill-equipped.

The replacement educational program levy is not a new levy. It just replaces the existing one. I hope our community sees the importance of voting yes to continue preparing our future generations of Spokane citizens.

Erica Nitchman

Spokane