January

14 - Early Release (2.5 hours) School Improvement Day

17 - MLK Day - No School

28 - Early Release (2.5 hours) - End of 1st Semester

31 - Start of 2nd Semester

February

16 - PHS Registration for 9th Graders

18-21 - Mid Winter Break

March

8 - Music Concert #1

11 - Early Release (2.5 hours)

15 - Music Concert #2

25 - Early Release - School Improvement Day (2.5 hours)

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, voters in Puyallup School District will be asked to consider two propositions: a Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy and a Capital Levy. Together, these levies will provide quality and supportive learning experiences and spaces for Puyallup students, setting them up for success now and after high school. Both levies require a simple majority 50% +1 to pass. Levies are for learning and help fund experiences and spaces that support the whole child both in and out of the classroom. Local levies are vital in filling the gap between state and federal funding and the actual cost of providing critical services to students, staff, and learning environments. The total tax rate change for a $500,000 home if both levies were to pass would be $23 per month. Puyallup’s existing total tax rate is $4.32 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This has been and continues to be one of the lowest tax rates when compared with neighboring districts.

PROP 1: What you should know …

• If approved, this 4-year replacement levy will maintain funding for classroom teachers, instructional assistants, nurses, special education instruction, advanced classes for high-achieving students, textbooks and learning materials, reasonable class sizes, arts, music and athletic programs, and maintain school playgrounds and playfields.
• Traditionally, Puyallup receives less funding per student than several of our neighboring districts due to an inequitable state funding formula.
• The most significant cost covered by the EP&O Levy is staffing and compensation. Competitive salaries are critical because they allow Puyallup to compete for and hire highly qualified teachers and support staff, like bus drivers and child nutrition workers.
• Puyallup’s staff salaries are comparable to our surrounding districts, but the state provides us 6% less funding for salaries than most of our neighbors. On average the state pays only about 85% of staff salaries.
• Although the State and federal government has provided additional funding due to the pandemic, that funding is temporary, and we still heavily rely on voter-approved levies to fill funding gaps.
• This is not a new tax, but rather a replacement of our current levy, expiring in 2022.

PROP 2: What you should know …

• This 6-year Capital Levy would fund infrastructure improvements and renovations that improve the safety, security and technology improvements throughout schools and facilities.
• Capital Levy will support safe, clean, and optimum learning environments to ensure schools are healthy settings and run efficiently:
• Upgrade fire protection infrastructure and security intrusion systems.
• Installation of wall-mounted alert beacons at all schools that would provide audible and visual notification in large spaces to alert students of impending lockdown.
• Improve HVAC systems and equipment, lighting, flooring and roofs at schools that have been identified as critical projects (end of life cycle) in Study and Survey
• Expand student access to technology through infrastructure enhancements and equipment improvements
• Improve traffic safety at schools identified as needing improvement to address student pick-up and drop-off traffic flow.
• Enhance school grounds, junior high athletic tracks and fields, at select elementaries make upgrades to playground surfacing and play structures.
• Replace critically deficient maintenance facility and consolidate transportation facilities for service efficiency.