Yes for ESD Kids (formerly Citizens for Schools) officially kicked off its campaign Monday, with a goal to build broad community support for the Edmonds School District’s upcoming school funding measures – Propositions 1 and 2.
Yes for ESD Kids is a parent- and community-led volunteer group that advocates on behalf of school funding measures that will support Edmonds School District, which includes Edmonds, Lynnwood, Brier, Woodway and Mountlake Terrace, according to a news release.
“Of our district’s 34 school campuses, 15 were built more than 50 years ago and haven’t been replaced since. Investing in our students and our schools strengthens our local communities. It benefits our economy. And it increases the vibrancy of our neighborhoods,” said Kory DeMun, president of Yes for ESD Kids.
“Our students deserve to learn in a safe and appropriate school environment and to have access to technology that makes learning accessible to all students and prepares them for competitive jobs of the future. That’s why we’re in this together to get this year’s measures approved on February 13, 2024,” DeMun said.
The campaign is seeking help in passing the measures. Community members who want to get involved to help the campaign can:
• Volunteer: There are many ways to get involved, from making phone calls, to knocking on doors, to sign-waving. Sign up here.
• Donate: The effort is sustained by donations from the community. Every dollar helps us create materials and buy ad space, yard signs and banners to get the word out. Contribute here.
• Support: Join the newsletter and help spread the word. Social media – Instagram, Facebook, X (twitter)
For more information about Yes for ESD Kids, visit www.yesforesdkids.org.
Big fan of the Edmonds School District. Unfortunately, historically, they have not been great about providing clear and detailed communication on their bond and levy proposals to help build support. How much do these cost in comparison to what we’re already paying? How have they factored in the loss of student population since covid, and the trends in the population of children in the district, to inform their decisions on what schools to replace and/or build new? Considering all that we’ve heard in recent months about public schools’ loss of students, can they truly justify adding a new middle school? These are all questions that need to be clearly communicated to the community. It’s all part of improving transparency. Hopefully, with the new ESD administration settled in, it will be different and better this time. This is a big one, and desperately needed. The emotional pleas will win over some voters, but others of us want to see detailed analysis.
Dear Steve, Thank you for sharing this comment! This is precisely the type of feedback we need to hear as we prep for community-wide educational outreach programming in December and January. The more we hear from folks about what they want to know about Propositions 1 and 2 only helps improve our work.
We’ve just launched this campaign and are striving to be more impactful with our work each day. To that end, we’d appreciate the opportunity to sit down with you to hear more about your questions. Please send us an email at yesforesdkids@gmail.com, and we’ll be sure to follow up with you. Thank you again!
I will be voting YES. The physical state of College Place Middle School is shameful. There is literally asbestos in the middle of the science classrooms. Even if you don’t have kids, if you are an Edmonds home owner your property value is being impacted by the deplorable state of the building because it drives prospective home buyers with means to other school districts, like Lake Forest Park, or Kirkland.
In all my time in the ESD I have always automatically voted for school funding. But it is difficult this year as the 20-year treasury bond has not been this expensive since 2008. YES schools need to be updated and maintained. Where was the board in Feb. 2023, or 2022, or… Am I off base here? Is the bond request bigger than in previous years? Is now the right year to go onto the market for $600M? This is a painful request. Should we postpone 12mo?