Dear Families and Community,
To say these past few years have been a challenge would be a dramatic understatement. The pandemic has created massive obstacles for everyone, and unfortunately, schools have unintentionally found themselves in the middle of some politically charged debates. Please take a moment out of your day to learn why schools should not be penalized for state-imposed mandates that schools are legally required to follow.
Throughout the pandemic, some community members have voiced concerns over issues such as masking in schools, not just in Castle Rock, but all over the state and nation. A small and vocal group is urging others to vote against school levies until state-required mandates are revoked.
This tactic is ill-informed and divisive for our schools and our students. It is unfair to punish local kids, many of whom rely on schools to meet their basic needs, in order to make a political statement about masks and COVID-related restrictions.
Schools do not have a choice.
It is extremely important for our community to understand that local schools do not have a choice in implementing COVID-related guidance and mandates. This is not a local decision. Wearing a face covering is required by law, as outlined in a governor proclamation under his emergency powers, as well as in secretary of health public health order: “every person in Washington must wear a face covering when they are in a place that is generally accessible to any person from outside their household, subject to specific exceptions and exemptions.” This means schools.
What happens if a school doesn’t follow these mandates? Funding is withheld.
Schools that do not follow legal requirements risk losing state funding, known as apportionment. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal has repeatedly reminded schools that if they “willfully violate the Governor’s mask or vaccine requirements,” his office will “withhold the local education agency’s subsequent monthly apportionment payments.” You can view one of the letters sent to a school district in violation of the mask mandate, yourself https://drive.google.com/file/d/11z_cI1zZxrUTLw6qnS-HBbkFQY0WNMAg/view?usp=sharing.
Elsewhere, the Oregon Department of Education is withholding federal funding for Alsea School District in Oregon after the school board voted to do away with mask requirements — violating state mask regulations for schools. This same scenario is playing out all over the nation.
State funding accounts for 82 percent of Castle Rock’s overall budget, which means defying a mask mandate could mean losing $1.3 to $1.7 million every month. That translates to tremendous losses for our students. Things like athletics, special education staff, music, curriculum updates, and school nurses would suffer serious cuts or elimination, altogether.
I understand many people don’t like wearing masks. I don’t like it either, and I am hopeful that someday soon we can remove them altogether. But it would be irresponsible for me, as superintendent, and our board, as leaders of this district to defy state requirements and lose state funding.
Our kids shouldn’t be penalized for the requirements state leaders have put in place, which schools must follow. Our levy bridges the gap between the funding Castle Rock receives from Washington State and the actual cost of operating a school district. The levy funds extracurricular activities like sports, art, band, and clubs. The levy funds transportation of students to and from school, special education services, technology and equipment for student learning, and curriculum updates just to name a few.
Please don’t put Castle Rock and other school districts across the state in an impossible position, requiring us to choose between funding losses: risk losing state funding or risk losing local funding. It would be a lose-lose situation for our students, families, and community no matter what.
Ryan Greene
Superintendent
Castle Rock School District
