I hope that you will join us in supporting the school district’s four-year renewal levy on Feb. 11.

This is a maintenance and operations (M&O) levy that is critical for our school district as it makes up approximately 23 percent of the annual operating budget. A few of the important ways the operating funds are used are for advanced placement courses, as well as for other special needs like preschool and StudentLink and FamilyLink; professional development in mathematics, and for the adoption of new Common Core Standards.

This local M&O levy supplements state and federal funding and student fees. It is totally different and managed separately from the construction bonds and levies. Passage ensures lower class sizes and provides for a wide array of important electives such as band, art, drama and debate.

This is not a new tax. It merely replaces the operation levy that we support every four years.

— May and John Gerstle