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Kennewick School District reviews EP&O and technology levy options ahead of November resolution
Summary
District staff outlined what Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) and technology levies pay for — from nurses and safety staff to extracurriculars and instructional technology — and said a resolution must be presented to the board Nov. 12 to place levy language before voters in the Feb. 10 election.
Superintendent staff and Dr. Brillhart told the Kennewick School District Board of Directors that levies are essential to fill funding gaps not covered by state allocations, and outlined a timeline for a November resolution and a Feb. 10 election.
Brillhart, the district official leading the presentation, said EP&O levies and technology levies support items the state’s prototypical funding model does not fully cover. He listed examples: graduation success coordinators, AP and IB course support, dual-language services, substitute coverage beyond the state's four paid days per teacher, school safety officers and security staff, school nurses (the state funds roughly a fraction of a nurse FTE for some school sizes), paraeducators and extracurricular programs, custodial and maintenance staffing, transportation enhancements, and classroom technology.
The presentation stressed that levies are not bonds for buildings but a recurring local funding source for programming and operations. Brillhart said staff will finalize dollar and rate projections only after receiving an updated county assessed value, expected in early October, and recommended a study session so the board can review proposed levy amounts before a November resolution.
Board members asked about community outreach and messaging; staff said a community engagement team has been meeting for months to prepare outreach and that board members will play a role in communicating district priorities. A study session was proposed for Oct. 22 to refine estimates and outreach strategy. Brillhart said the formal milestone is Nov. 12, when the board must present and — if it chooses — approve a resolution directing staff to place levy language on the Feb. 10 ballot.
No formal levy resolution was voted on at this meeting; staff emphasized the need for accurate assessed-value information before fixing rates. The district plans further community meetings and expects to return to the board with finalized projections and recommended language ahead of the November deadline.
