Parkrose board outlines informational campaign for November teachers levy, seeks volunteers

Board members and Superintendent Michael Lutzkamp discussed the district’s informational campaign and PAC activity for a teachers levy that will appear on the November ballot. The superintendent said the campaign’s public materials and a website are live, and a political-action committee has organized fundraising and outreach.

Officials said the levy funding would support about 28 teaching positions. The district estimated the cost to send a mailer to the whole community at about $6,000 and referenced a separate professional services contract of roughly $30,000. The superintendent asked board members and student representatives to help with outreach at events, including upcoming football games, back-to-school nights and neighborhood canvassing targeted for early October.

The board discussed logistics and timing: canvassing and a mailer are planned for early–mid October to coincide with ballot mailing, and the board noted nearly 700 under-votes (ballots left blank) in the district’s 2022 election — a local pattern they said the outreach aims to address. The district plans a more detailed presentation from the campaign lead at the next business meeting.

Board members encouraged non-district staff supporters to share campaign materials on their personal social channels and to volunteer for canvassing and tabling at community events. The board discussed legal boundaries for district staff (district employees are informational only; board members and private citizens may engage in advocacy outside working hours).

Next steps include a campaign presentation at the business meeting and scheduling canvassing and mailers ahead of ballots being mailed in mid-October.