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This Capital Projects and Technology Replacement Levy would support and fund the following:

Health & Safety 

• Healthy air ventilation and cooling systems.
• Upgrade alarm systems, including intruder alarms and fire alarms; some current alarms are over 20 years old. 
• Accessible and inclusive playground equipment at elementary schools. 
• School entrance?additions for access control to provide security. 

Replacements & Improvements

• Boiler replacements; some boilers are original to the school building, and some are over 20 years old. 
• New flooring – replace old, outdated, and heavy traffic-area flooring. Some current flooring is over 20 years old. 
• Transportation Fueling Center – to address new code compliance. 
• Fridge/freezer emergency power at Central Kitchen to preserve food during a power outage. 
• Mill Creek Middle School synthetic field and track as well as high school synthetic fields. 

Access to Technology

• District devices for all students and staff; includes 1:1 tablets/laptops for each student. These are devices that allow digital textbooks for students, which can reduce backpack load and provide digital accessibility and learning tools.   
  • Secondary student and teacher devices are refreshed every four years to optimize performance and battery life, whereas elementary devices can last longer and are replaced as needed.
  • What happens to the secondary and teacher devices after four years?
    • The lowest grade devices that are damaged and not financially viable to repair are disposed of.
    • Devices that are incompatible with software upgrades are also disposed of.
    • Devices that are still able to be used for educational purposes are:
      • Used for summer school or other programs while students’ primary devices are being reimaged over the summer.
      • Used as backups in case student devices are lost/stolen/broken.
      • Given to schools for temporary technology projects or purposes (special state testing or other specific assessments)
      • Full-time running start students are provided a device if needed.
• Document camera replacement – the current document camera system, known as ELMO, is over 10 years old. 
• Classroom display refresh – staff and students have access to interactive panels and touch screen devices where they can draw and write directly on the panel screen.  
• Internet connectivity for students at home to complete homework. 

Teaching & Learning Tools

• Complete Microsoft platform - includes Outlook (district email system), Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Teams – online meetings, video, chat, project management, Microsoft security suite. 
• Skyward – student information system. Families can access grades, email a teacher, find their student’s report card, report an absence, and much more. This system is the core of student information management. 
• Canvas – student learning management system: course materials, communication tools, participation and grades; used for day-to-day delivery of instruction to students. 

Modernize Infrastructure

• Phone system updates. 
• Classroom voice amplification system so that all students can hear the teacher 
• Intercom systems – 50% of our schools’ intercom systems are either failing or components of the system are failing. The intercom system provides communication of information to students and staff in the school building, including safety situations.     
• Update disaster recovery system for ransomware protection.  
• Update infrastructure capable of connecting devices faster and more securely. 

Teachers & Staff Professional Development

• Project-Based Learning Training: provide engagement with real-world applications. 
• Innovative Leaders Cohort: extra service time for educators.
• AI Training: stay abreast of AI advancements and best practices.
• Digital & Media Literacy Training: equip educators for responsible digital navigation.

The Kent School District encourages community members to be informed voters. For additional details, including detailed tax costs, view . 

April 23, 2024 - Remember to Vote

The Capital Projects and Technology Replacement Levy would provide a majority of funding over the next three years for health and safety, replacements and improvements, and technology education.