Families are stretched thin right now. Taxes are high, costs keep rising and many people are understandably worried about how much more they can manage.
Those concerns are real, and they deserve respect.
I’m not writing to tell anyone how to vote for the Centralia School District replacement levy, but to share a growing concern about our schools and our community.
Our students are capable. Our teachers and staff work incredibly hard. Yet when local levies don’t pass, our schools struggle to remain competitive with others in our area. Over time, that gap grows — not because of a lack of effort, but because opportunities depend on resources.
Local funding helps support counselors, safety staff, extracurricular activities and programs that keep students connected, engaged and motivated to our schools. When those supports are reduced, it becomes harder to offer the same experiences families see elsewhere.
We feel it when students leave. We see it when programs are cut and don’t fully return — when schools are forced to fall behind.
This isn’t about extras or extravagance. It’s about whether our schools can keep pace and provide students with opportunities that help them succeed and feel proud of where they go to school.
I respect that every household must make difficult financial decisions. My hope is simply that as we consider the future of our schools, we also reflect on what it means for our kids — and for the strength and pride of our community.
Levies don’t just support students — they support stability and the future workforce.
Vote on Feb. 10.
Deb Parnham
Centralia
