Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
During a Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors special meeting on Thursday, July 31, Citizens for Support of Yelm Schools Vice Chair Jerry Toompas took the podium to express the nonprofit’s support and desire to help pass the upcoming Nov. 4 levy measure.
Toompas, a special education teacher, described the nonprofit as an organization committed to supporting YCS through community funding. He used his time at the podium to declare that Citizens for Support of Yelm Schools is ready to support the district in any capacity to attempt to pass the November levy.
It will be the district’s fourth attempt at passing a levy, this time at a reduced rate.
“I just wanted to come and say if the board of directors chooses to move forward with placing the levy on the ballot, that Citizens of Yelm is ready to act,” Toompas said. “After multiple failed levies, the impact on our schools are clear. Counselors, administrators, librarians, art, music, technology, curriculum are more at risk of becoming permanently reduced or limited.”
As a parent of several YCS students, Toompas has seen how districtwide cuts have affected his children. He knows that he and his wife, Kait, aren’t the only parents in the YCS community feeling the effects and hopes to see more district residents become involved in finding a way to pass the levy.
“Last year, six of my children attended Yelm Community Schools, and I can attest to the fact that the cuts have harmed their education and social/emotional needs. This cannot become the new normal,” Toompas said. “One thing is clear: more passionate volunteers are needed in order to make this happen. We’re also open to change. We’re willing to adapt wherever we need to succeed, and we’re actively looking for new executive board members to bring in fresh energy and ideas. Previous efforts have not worked, and we invite anyone in the community who cares about a quality education in Yelm to get involved and offer your expertise and perspective.”
Toompas admitted that passing the upcoming levy will be difficult, but regardless of the difficulty, he said the community “can count on” Citizens for Support of Yelm Schools to provide resources and make the strong effort “needed to get (the levy) passed.”
“Citizens of Yelm has helped run levy campaigns for decades. In the last effort, multiple organizations came together to help and we’re prepared to do that again. If needed, we’re just as ready to lead the charge alone. I will work with anyone who’s going to step up,” Toompas said. “In short, if the levy is to be run again, we are willing to help in any capacity that is needed and we are open to any change that’s needed. We’re open to adopt new ideas, to create new partnerships, and to take in all the perspectives in order to make the next step more successful.”
Learn more at https://yelm.org/.
