Oct 15, 2026 · 5 min · 4 segments
Larry Roe attended the Battle Ground School District levy information session and raises pointed questions about whether the $116 million, three-year levy funds constitutionally required basic…
I recently attended the Battle Ground School District Levy information session and heard one side of a debate.
District Superintendent Shelley Whitten gave an overview of the levy proposal on the ballot, which calls for the collection of one hundred and sixteen million dollars over three years.
TJ Kelly, the chief financial officer from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state, presented the state's assessment of the district's financial position if the levy is not approved.
The Battle Ground School District would be unable to satisfy the legislature's underfunded mandates.
The district would be driven into extended state financial oversight when the general fund balance would go negative during the current school year.
The audience was small, approximately eighty people, and consisted of employees of the district, the school district citizen advisory committee, and a few parents and grandparents.
The presenters took questions from the audience that eventually overtook the planned agenda.
The main themes were that the cuts would reduce or eliminate programs for students in need of support, that the legislature needs to allocate more money to the K through twelve schools, and the community is responsible for supporting the public schools.
Many comments were aimed at the inadequacy of the legislature's funding model.
Eventually, the audience comments settled on talking points and emotional stories for convincing neighbors to vote for the levy proposal.
The structure of the meeting was not about the academic or athletic priorities in the school district.
It was not about the impacts of higher property taxes on different groups in the community.
It was limited to advocacy for the one of four administration proposals that has been selected by the school board.
A few creative ways of supporting school operations were highlighted.
The support of security personnel needs on school grounds by the police department, and the flexible classrooms and athletic opportunities for students whose families spend most of their time homeschooling.
I recently attended the Battle Ground School District Levy information session and heard one side of a debate.
District Superintendent Shelley Whitten gave an overview of the levy proposal on the ballot, which calls for the collection of one hundred and sixteen million dollars over three years.
TJ Kelly, the chief financial officer from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state, presented the state's assessment of the district's financial position if the levy is not approved.
The Battle Ground School District would be unable to satisfy the legislature's underfunded mandates.
The district would be driven into extended state financial oversight when the general fund balance would go negative during the current school year.
The audience was small, approximately eighty people, and consisted of employees of the district, the school district citizen advisory committee, and a few parents and grandparents.
The presenters took questions from the audience that eventually overtook the planned agenda.
The main themes were that the cuts would reduce or eliminate programs for students in need of support, that the legislature needs to allocate more money to the K through twelve schools, and the community is responsible for supporting the public schools.
Many comments were aimed at the inadequacy of the legislature's funding model.
Eventually, the audience comments settled on talking points and emotional stories for convincing neighbors to vote for the levy proposal.
The structure of the meeting was not about the academic or athletic priorities in the school district.
It was not about the impacts of higher property taxes on different groups in the community.
It was limited to advocacy for the one of four administration proposals that has been selected by the school board.
A few creative ways of supporting school operations were highlighted.
The support of security personnel needs on school grounds by the police department, and the flexible classrooms and athletic opportunities for students whose families spend most of their time homeschooling.
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