School levy on the horizon.

With the current maintenance and operations levy for Bainbridge public schools set to expire, district officials have begun work on a new levy package, tentatively scheduled to go before voters in February.

Levies on local taxpayers make up for shortages in state and federal funding and pay for general education programs and services like teacher salaries, supplies, extracurricular activities and transportation.

School board President Bruce Weiland said Bainbridge schools are among the bottom districts in the state when it comes to available funding, receiving about $536 less per student than the state average. That reality, he said, makes the levy’s approval vital to the sustenance of local schools.

“This is not about extras,” Weiland said. “These are the nuts and bolts of education that make it possible for our schools to function on a day-to-day basis.”

No decisions have yet been made, but under discussion is whether to ask voters to renew the current levy – a property tax of roughly $1.34 per thousand dollars of valuation – or increase it slightly to account for changes in property values and state funding that may occur over the next few years.

Officials fear that setting the amount too low could result in the district receiving less money than allowed by the local levy lid, currently fixed by state law at 24.98 percent of the district’s state and federal revenues.

Already facing a budget crunch due to lower-than-expected enrollment, the district this year could have collected an additional $170,000 had its past projections been more accurate.

Weiland said that while the district strives to get as close as possible, hitting the mark is extremely difficult given all the variables.

To counter the uncertainty, officials could shorten the duration of the levy from the maximum four years to three or two years, though school board members worried that doing so might result in “voter fatigue.”

Board members hope to finalize the package at the Nov. 30 school board meeting. It must be submitted to the county by Dec. 15 in order to go to a vote in February.

Though islanders have traditionally shown strong support for education levies, Weiland stressed the importance of presenting the right package to voters.

“It’s really a guessing game,” Weiland said. “I think the community largely wants to see this be a renewal.

“But we don’t want to leave anything on the table.”

– Chad Schuster

Help, hope for homework.

Bainbridge High School students seeking help with their schoolwork can now turn to their classmates.

Several of the school’s 210 National Honor Society members last week began offering tutoring sessions in a variety of subjects.

The free one-hour sessions start at 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday at the school’s library, and are a good alternative to the often expensive private tutors used by some, according to NHS advisor Noah Barfield.

“I know some parents pay $40 or $50 an hour for tutoring,” he said. “This is just another option.”

Tutoring takes place in groups of four that are lead by the NHS students, who must maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average in addition to completing service work in the community.

Barfield said turnout during the first week of the program was sparse, but he hopes that will change once more students realize it exists.

“I’m really encouraged,” Barfield said. “We have some really enthusiastic tutors and we’re hoping students will take advantage of that.”

– Chad Schuster

No shortage of family fun.

The Bainbridge Coalition for Youth and Parents – also known as “Just Know” – says it will be more active than in years past.

Having long touted the importance of family by organizing an annual island-wide family night, the group now plans to offer three such events between now and June, including one scheduled for later this month.

To kick things off, the Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club will host a “Variations on Bingo” night, 6 to 8 p.m., Nov. 29 at Sakai Intermediate School. All families, in whatever configuration they exist, are invited to enjoy refreshments and fun at the event.

Later family nights will occur in January and May.

Along with the added events, the group has a new logo – designed by 17-year-old contest winner and BHS senior Mimi Price – and the backing of Mayor Darlene Kordonowy, who at Wednesday’s City Council meeting honored Price for her logo design and read a proclomation in support of Just Know.

The coalition also will host its third annual forum, “Cyberspeak – Let’s Talk,” 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 18 in the Woodward Middle School commons. The featured speaker is Bobbie Eisenstock, PhD, who develops media literacy resources and workshops about the effects of the media and the Internet on children, teens and families.

– Chad Schuster