• Please vote by February 14, 2023 on the Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy and Safety, Security and Technology Levy. Together, our levies provide essential funding for Peninsula School District programs and staff.

• The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy is critical to maintaining the quality of our local schools, and it accounts for about 18% of our district’s total budget.

• The levy will continue funding day-to-day school operations not fully funded by the state, such as nurses, counselors, educators, athletics, arts, music, clubs, transportation and preventative maintenance projects.

• For example, the state only funds 4.88 nurses. The EP&O levy funds a nurse or health technician at all 17 schools. All of PSD’s athletic programs are funded by this levy.

• The Safety, Security and Technology Levy will create dedicated funding to better protect, serve and prepare our students for the future.

• The state provides no funding for safety and security projects, so the levy would be the only funding source.

• School safety and security are top priorities for families and our community.

• The levy provides enhanced safety and security systems and technology improvements across the District.

• The levy rates are estimated to be $1.13 and $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, respectively. If approved, the total estimated local school tax rate, including both levies and the existing bond, is estimated to be $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed value beginning in 2024. This is lower than the total current rate of $2.01 per $1,000 based on 2022 assessed values.

• Vote by Tuesday, February 14. For more info: www.psd401.net/levy.

For students living outside the boundaries of the Peninsula School District, who wish to attend a school in Peninsula School District, CHOICE Transfer Requests for the 2023-2024 school year will be considered beginning May 1st through May 31st . Parents/Guardians will be notified within 45 days of May 31st if the request has been accepted or denied.

To become a non-resident student in the Peninsula School District, parents must complete a CHOICE Transfer Request through the WA State CHOICE Transfer Request Portal.

Just a reminder: CHOICE Transfer requests must be renewed annually. Students

currently on a transfer for the 2022-2023 school year, that wish to continue the transfer

for the 2023-2024 school year must also submit a CHOICE Transfer Request, through

the WA State Portal, no later than May 31st.

Additionally, due to the rapid growth in Gig Harbor North, Harbor Ridge Middle School will not

be accepting any new 2023-2024 Out of District CHOICE transfer requests. To obtain a release from Peninsula School District, to enroll in a program located in another

school district, parents need to complete a CHOICE Transfer Request through the

WA State CHOICE Transfer Request Portal.

School Board Policy 3140 CHOICE Transfer for Out of District Students and the Procedure

3140p gives the guidelines for CHOICE Transfer Requests.

Please call or email tallmanr@psd401.net at (253) 530-1007, for further information.

For the month of February our theme ideas are Levy vote/sign waving, Hops and Drops takeover, cooking, hands on art, hearts, red/pink, love, reading and mid winter break. Comment below or email your images to CarryMcAllister@Gmail.com. Please add students name, grade/teacher, and only include images of current Artondale students.

The Peninsula School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the District’s Title IX and Compliance Officer, Dan Gregory, at (253) 530-1009, email gregoryd@psd401.net or the Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, John Yellowlees, at (253) 530-1081, email yellowleesj@psd401.net.Mailing address: 14015 62nd Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332.