Sherwood schools shouldn’t look to taxpayers for bailout
Regarding the pending May vote for a local option levy for Sherwood schools, I will have to vote “no” and I encourage others to do the same.
We already pay a rather hefty tax for our good schools, wrapped into our annual property taxes. According to my calculations, I am already paying $4.54 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for Sherwood schools, and I am very happy to be supporting public education in this manner.
The proposed levy will add $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which is written to look like a small item. For my house in Sherwood, this will add an additional $400 to my annual property tax bill, which will have a real impact my household budget.
I am a retired educator, and I fully support the concept and mission of public education.
My objection to this new levy is that the $2.2 million shortfall in the school budget was due in large part to finance administrators in the school district not keeping a watchful eye on the monthly and annual budget sheets.
This problem could not occur overnight. Where were the dire warnings as this was slowly unfolding?
I am happy to pay for ongoing school support. However, I am not willing to pay for mistakes that really should have been avoided.
Vote “no” on this local option levy in the May election.
Brian Belet, Sherwood
Investing in Sherwood’s schools is investing in community
As a resident and business owner in Sherwood, I am writing to express my support for the upcoming school levy.
Our community has always valued education and invested in the future of our children, and this levy is a critical step in continuing that legacy.
The funds generated from this levy will provide much-needed resources for our schools in order to maintain the high standard of education in Sherwood that brought many of us to this community.
These investments will create a better learning environment for our students, help attract and retain top-quality educators, and ultimately improve student achievement.
Furthermore, investing in our schools is an investment in our community.
High-quality schools are a key factor in attracting new businesses and families to our area, which helps to drive economic growth and increase property values.
By supporting this levy, we are not only investing in our children’s futures, but also in the future prosperity of our entire community.
I understand that the idea of a tax increase may be concerning for some, but the benefits of this levy far outweigh any potential costs.
I urge my fellow community members to support this levy and invest in the future of our children and our community. Let’s continue to build on the proud tradition of educational excellence in Sherwood.
JJ Bittner, DMD
Owner, Bittner Dentistry for Kids
We have no time to waste on fossil fuel divestment
I am an Oregonian parent and grandparent concerned about the future of our earth.
I am a taxpayer concerned that my tax dollars are being used to support an industry that is no longer viable and continues to damage our already fragile earth.
The truth is that we no longer have time to consider what actions should be taken. That has been happening since the 1970s.
We need to act now to keep fossil fuels in the ground.
The way to accelerate this action is by not supporting those corporations who are making a profit on the backs of people like you and me, and those most vulnerable in our communities.
The Oregon Treasury Department is currently propping up the fossil fuel industry by investing our state PERS fund unwisely, despite all the climate craziness we have been experiencing.
House Bill 2601, the Treasury Investment and Climate Protection Act (TICPA) co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Golden and Michael Dembrow, and Reps. Courtney Neron, Maxine Dexter, Rob Nosse, Khanh Pham, Jules Walters and Mark Gamba, immediately ends new OST fossil fuel investments, and phases out current investments in fossil fuels by 2035. The TICPA also mandates increased transparency in investments.
Legislators, work together to put an end to our implicit support for fossil fuels by divesting from the corporations who are profiting from them. Support HB 2601.
Eileen Sleva, Hillsboro
Vote ‘yes’ on levy for present, future of Sherwood’s youth
I am writing to ask all the citizens of Sherwood to support the upcoming vote for the Sherwood education levy.
I know many of you don’t have kids in the school system anymore; many are still angry at the actions by our former superintendent and CFO, and we all are feeling the effects of inflation.
I am a parent of three kids, one of whom has significant special needs and graduated from Sherwood. I also have a sophomore and seventh-grader currently enrolled.
I believe there is nothing more important we can do for our community than support this levy.
Former migrant worker turned mayor Alan Autry said, “You don’t need a city charter to know that education is the foundation of any community.”
Sherwood is at the tipping point. Now is the time we show our Sherwood youth that their future matters; that they matter.
As the state allocates fewer dollars to Sherwood and similar communities, this is the time to invest directly in Sherwood schools.
If your student was privileged to go to Sherwood schools during strong financial times and enjoyed programs like the Bowmen House, smaller class sizes, STEM programs, chrome books, band, sports and other programs, please support this levy for the students here now.
If you moved here, like we did, for the idilic Sherwood community, strong schools and strong home values, please vote to support this levy to help ensure our community continues to stay strong and compete with surrounding districts.
Beth Farnum, Sherwood
Sherwood High School student urges ‘yes’ vote for levy
At the February school board meeting, the levy was unanimously approved by board members.
Prior to the vote, they listened to public comments that were mostly in favor of the approval, all from people closely tied to students in the community. These people, and so many more, have shared their support for levy with students’ best interests in mind.
With the levy, the Sherwood School District will have the resources necessary to adequately maintain a productive and well rounded environment for the kids growing up here.
When the vote is sent out to residents of Sherwood in May, I strongly urge you to vote in support of students, schools and the Sherwood levy.
The levy is not only to help subsidize recent losses, but also to make up for the inadequate amount of state funding that this district receives in the first place.
The current school board is proposing the levy as a solution to fully support the students in the Sherwood School District from here on out.
In the end, the levy is a small price to pay for a huge impact on the future of Sherwood, affecting everyone involved with the school district ultimately for the better.
Payzlee Sarono-Ramos, Sherwood