This opinion is my own and not reflective of the Battle Ground City Council or the city of Battle Ground.
In Battle Ground we have historically struggled to attract and retain high quality employers and jobs at a similar rate to our neighbors. A strong and well supported school system is a large part of that equation.
I hope you will join me in supporting the April 22 Battle Ground school levy.
Of all the full service school districts in Clark County, Battle Ground Public Schools is and has consistently been the lowest taxing district of its peers. I share the concern that a school levy being proposed every three to four years is not the ideal way to fund our schools. However, it is currently the only avenue to provide the services the state demands but does not fund.
The services the levy provides that the basic state funding does not is expansive. I highly suggest being aware of all those programs and services before casting your vote. From busing to sports, band to crossing guards; the list is surprisingly long.
We only recently regained middle school sports which were eliminated in the 1980s after a double levy failure.
I write this as a parent of two children who attended 13 years of BGPS, a concerned business owner who wishes to see our community thrive, and a mayor that realizes the prospect of a double levy failure will take years and sometimes even decades to fully recover from.
Please consider supporting our schools on April 22.
Troy McCoy
Battle Ground
