Editor’s note: Erin Weaver is a member of Maple Valley City Council, but she is writing this letter as a citizen and not as a representative of the council.

As a parent in the Tahoma School District, I am asking fellow parents and community members to join me in voting YES for the continuation of two levies on the Feb. 9 ballot. Both of these measures are important in ensuring that our students continue to get the quality education they will need to be successful.

The operations and programs levy makes up almost 20 percent of our district’s budget. Without these funds, it is very likely that we will see a reduction in staff, class sizes go up, sports programs decrease and less classes and programs for our students to participate in. We need to vote YES and continue paying our local levy for another four years.

The technology levy we passed four years ago needs to be continued as well. I know that I personally love the access to my student’s grades and assignments online. It has allowed me to be more fully informed and involved as a parent. Like most of you, I am aware that our lives are now completely intertwined with technology tools. Our students need to be efficient and sophisticated users of technology, both tools and software, to be competitive and successful in our society.

Your ballot will arrive in the mail in mid-January. Please take the time to fill it out and support our students and the Tahoma schools. Our children need our help and, frankly, we need theirs. Who else will help us program our DVR’s and increasingly complicated cell phones?

Erin Weaver

Maple Valley