One wakes up with a jolt realizing that the snooze button on one’s clock may have been hit quite a few times. Feeling the stress of being late to school can tend to make people forget important items such as a computer. Walking into class late and having to ask the teacher to go to the library for a computer loaner is embarrassing, but the school not having these tools for students is even more humiliating. This could be a reality if the school loses important funding.
Many people in the community might not understand the way the district gets money and how everything is distributed to each building. For most schools, there are funding streams where everyone can figure out what grant or levy is funding each part of the school. One of these important levies, made by the Iowa Department of Education, is the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. Christie VanWey is the business manager for the district. VanWey said, “PPEL allows us to pay for technology, transportation, and maintenance items to keep the district going! The PPEL is only one of the main funders for all buildings, and many people do not understand what this levy does for the district.” On November 7, 2023, there was a vote for PPEL that didn’t go through, which caused a lot of pressure and tension in the district.
The previous levy will expire in the year 2025. If the second vote of the PPEL on Tuesday, March 5 does not get passed, then there will have to be cuts on certain projects that make each school stronger. The voting is for the community, so it’s up to the people of the district if the levy gets passed. One reason the levy might not have been voted for is because of the false information about the PPEL raising taxes. This levy is an extension from the previous one and will not raise any taxes which not explained before the previous voting. Through this, blame can be thrown in many directions, but the ballet language can also be a confusing factor. VanWey said, “This language is legal language, however, we have worked with our attorneys to provide a more readable version of the language so hopefully voters will better understand what they are voting for.” When the information isn’t clear, it can be difficult for people to vote for anything.
Another reason could simply be that people do not understand what the PPEL grant provides to the schools. Most technology, such as Chromebooks, is a huge factor in our school that is provided by the PPEL. The district is currently 1:1 with technology, which means that each student is provided with a computer. Everyone is allowed to bring their computers home and use them for all classes. If the PPEL is denied, then the schools might not be able to be 1:1 and students will have to share computers.
Buses used for transporting students to events are also a major item paid for by the PPEL. Caleb Houy, junior, said, “ Being in speech and show choir, transportation is a big deal since we are going forty-five minutes to two hours out of town, so without the money, that could play a major role.” The district has many opportunities for students to get involved, but those events can be limited without the PPEL.
This levy is an essential resource for a good quantity of projects and is one of the reasons why every school is built to help students succeed. VanWey said, “Marion is a great place to be.” There is so much access for students with every hobby. With the help from the PPEL, the school continues to strive and get better for future generations.
