Principal Communicator

These items are supplied by the communications department for your use as appropriate in your school newsletters and/or on school web sites. For more information, or to suggest an item, contact Kathryn Reith at kreith@lwsd.org.

Parent Access Expands

Parent Access, a secure information site for district parents, is now available for all parents for the district. All parents can check to make sure their contact information on file with the district is correct, to see the teacher(s) their student(s) have, send e-mails to teachers, and check school lunch account balances. Parents of secondary students can also check their grades. All it takes to sign up for Parent Access is to have an e-mail account on file with your student’s school office.

This year, two new functions have been added to Parent Access. One is the ability to make credit card payments to lunch accounts. In the past, parents had to call Food Services during business hours to give them a credit card number over the phone, which they can still do. The new, simple, web-based process will enable parents to make a payment any time using a credit card. Since Parent Access provides parents with access to their student’s information, it is a very secure site.

The second addition is the ability for parents to fill out their volunteer application online. On signing in to Parent Access, the volunteer application is already populated with the parent information on file, i.e., name, address and phone number. Between this automated function and having parents fill out the form online, there is less potential for error. This online process is quicker and easier than filling out the paper forms and saves paper as well.

For more information, see the Parent Access New User page on the district web site.

Substitute positions available

Are you or someone you know interested in working in a school environment? Lake Washington School District has positions open for substitute bus drivers, substitute special education para educators and substitute custodians. Substitute work is a good way to get to know the district, different school locations and different employment opportunities.  For more information or to apply, go to www.lwsd.org and click on “Employment.”

[note: the following item is a fact sheet that has been okayed for distribution by the Public Disclosure Commission. Reminder: the district cannot advocate for or against a specific ballot measure, but it can provide factual information.]

Questions and answers on a statewide ballot measure concerning school levies

How does Washington’s current school levy system work? Currently, local school levies must receive both a 60% supermajority approval and meet the 40% validation requirement to pass.

What would EHJR 4204 do?  EHJR 4204 would amend the Washington State Constitution and would provide that a simple majority of voters (50% + 1) could authorize local school district levies. The amendment also removes the 40% election validation requirement for levy elections.  It does NOT apply to school bond elections. EHJR 4204 will be on the November 6^th ballot. 

What do school levies pay for? Local levies support school needs. In our District, the levies help to support education programs and school operations such as helps pay for teachers, textbooks, transportation, safety, security, activities and athletics. Levy funds are 18.4 percent of the District’s budget.

What happens if school levies don’t pass? Some school levies have failed because they do not meet the supermajority requirement. Levy failures can result in budget cuts, which require program cuts, staff and/or teacher layoffs, and other disruptions. Elections cost money. If school districts need to run a subsequent election for the same levy, it will take money away from educational programs. It cost our District $299,000 to run the most recent levy election.

Do all types of levies require a supermajority to pass? No, they do not. Regular tax levies do not require supermajority approval. Public hospital districts, metropolitan park districts, and other taxing jurisdictions can pass levies to operate hospitals, parks, and other facilities with a simple majority vote. School districts are held to the supermajority standard to pass a local levy.