Community speakers urge support for Evergreen replacement levies; superintendent outlines outreach

Evergreen Public Schools board members heard multiple public comments and a district presentation on Jan. 14 urging voters to approve two replacement levies on the Feb. 11, 2025, ballot.

Community members and district staff framed the levies as necessary to preserve programs, staff and technology. A student video described the two measures as a continuation of funding now set to expire and the superintendent outlined planned outreach and communications to inform families and staff.

The levies: the district presented Proposition 7, an educational programs and operations (EP&O) replacement levy said to fund extracurriculars, teachers, principals, counselors, support staff, special education, multilingual and highly capable programs and smaller class sizes; and Proposition 8, a safety, security and technology capital (SSTC) replacement levy described as funding emergency response systems, cybersecurity, student and staff devices, audio-visual equipment and network infrastructure. The district said the replacement levies are intended to fill a 13.5% gap between state funding and the cost to operate the schools.

Why it matters: speakers told the board that levies maintain programs that affect daily student life and broader community outcomes. Christie Peek, who identified herself as representing the Evergreen Education Association and as a longtime district teacher and parent, said, “This levy is critical to maintaining quality schools,” and urged residents to vote yes. Peek also invited supporters to a Feb. 1 rally at Leroy Hagen Memorial Park and door‑to‑door outreach the same day.

Parents who addressed the board raised two persistent themes: that many families are unaware the levies are on the ballot and that school staff positions, particularly paraeducators, are vulnerable if the levies fail. One parent said a town‑hall meeting is needed so families can have their questions answered; another, who identified herself as the parent of children with Individualized Education Programs, said early‑childhood and special‑needs supports are particularly at risk if funding is cut. Angela Gates said district preschool staff have provided vital services for her child and asked the board for more transparent, public‑facing levy information and a community Q&A.

District outreach: Superintendent Christine Maloney showed a two‑minute student video and said the district has a communications plan that includes staff‑facing and public materials, flyers, the student video, FAQs and a district web page (evergreenps.org/levy). Maloney said principals will share materials at school leadership gatherings and staff briefings through late January and that the district scheduled materials to be distributed after winter break so information is current.

What the board said: during board comments some members called questions from parents and community members constructive and expressed interest in a town‑hall style meeting before the levy election. No formal board action on the levies took place at the Jan. 14 meeting.

Ending: supporters announced a Feb. 1 rally at 9 a.m. at Leroy Hagen Memorial Park to promote the levies; the district reiterated Feb. 11 as the election date for Proposition 7 (EP&O) and Proposition 8 (SSTC).