We would like to finish that job for one of the key features of the new school.”

Jennifer James-Wilson: Port Townsend School Board Member

A solar-panel system at Salish Coast Elementary and a seismic retrofit of Port Townsend High School’s facilities are just two of many plans the Port Townsend School District has for revenue coming from two new school levies.

The two school levies on the Feb. 8 ballot are an educational programs and school support levy, along with a capital projects levy. Both are considered property tax levies.

The educational programs and school support levy will fund numerous aspects of the district including extracurricular activities, facility maintenance, health services, locally-sourced food programs, special education and preschool, library services, academic programs, and more.

Both levies will appear on the upcoming Special Election ballot for Port Townsend voters to decide upon by Feb. 8.

“These are what we call replacement levies. These levies are built and calculated to replace expiring levies at roughly the same amount,” said School Board Member Jennifer James-Wilson. “Its an integral part of the way we do business, the way we deliver education year in and year out.”

While the school district has plans for long-term projects, the levies will finance numerous day-to-day programs such as locally-sourced and fresh food during lunchtime.

“One of the things that we’re really proud about in Port Townsend is our scratch kitchen where we actually make our own food and locally source all of our food, or a good portion,” James-Wilson said.

As for the bigger projects involving the solar panels and seismic retrofitting, James-Wilson stressed the importance of using renewable energy and fully completing key features apart of the elementary school.

Port Townsend High is “in need of analysis and making it seismically stable,” James-Wilson said. “We’re looking at the high school campus and [its] needs with continued interest in accessibility, and now, seismic retrofitting.”

“It was anticipated at the time the project was designed so that the solar panels would pay for themselves … within a lifetime. Any steps we take toward offsetting electricity with solar energy is a net positive,” James-Wilson said. “We would like to finish that job for one of the key features of the new school.”

The seismic retrofit project at the high school most likely won’t happen in the next year or so, but will be addressed to solidify student safety.

The capital projects levy will fund many long-term projects and tech-related programs such as a solar panel project at Salish Coast Elementary; refreshing students tech devices and other equipment; replacing failing school phone systems; improving disability access at school buildings; completing a seismic retrofit at Port Townsend High; and improving learning spaces.

Both are three-year levies that, if approved by voters, will run from 2023 to 2025.

For the educational programs and school support levy, property tax rates will be 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2023; 86 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation in 2024; and 79 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value in 2025.

As for the capital projects levy, it will start at 46 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation for 2023; increase to 48 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value in 2024; then drop to 45 cents per $1,000 in property valuation in the final year.

The 2023-2025 levy replacements are projected to have a combined lower rate per $1,000 of assessed property value each year than the rates for 2020-2022.

Well-funded school programs are crucial to promote a learning environment for students to find their interests and passions, James-Wilson said: “[This] is so central to a well-rounded and relevant education.”

Mailed ballots need be postmarked by Election Day, Feb. 8.