CAMANO: School District reflects on levy results (SCN)

Isabella Loy reports from the Stanwood Camano School District board meeting of Tue., Mar. 5, 2024.

Since its Educational Programs & Operations levy passed in the February special election, the Stanwood-Camano School District has been reflecting on what went well — and what it could improve on.

At its Tuesday, March 5, meeting, the Stanwood- Camano School Board heard a levy wrap-up report from Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh.

They Said It

Rumbaugh said that after its Facilities and Technology replacement levy failed and expired in 2022, the district focused on a learning campaign this time around.

“One of the things that really stood out was the importance of helping our community — and when I say that I include our school communities in that and even our students to some degree — in understanding how school budgets and levies work,” she said.

“We’re hoping to increase voter participation not only in this election but in all elections,” Rumbaugh said. “It’s an important right and opportunity that we have.”

One major takeaway for the district was that voters dislike being told what to do and people rather have all the information to make their own decisions. “We were not in a phase of telling folks what’s right or what’s wrong, but more of ‘This is how levies work and this is where those dollars go to,’” Rumbaugh said.