Voters passed the Walla Walla School District Replacement Levy Tuesday, February 14, with 63.88 percent voting in favor. Total turnout was 8757, which represents 46.2 percent of registered voters in Walla Walla County.

“We’re pretty happy to have that support from the community,” said District  Superintendent  Mick Miller.

This levy will replace the current levy, which expires at the end of 2012. Levies make up approximately 20 percent of the school district’s operating budget and provide funding for extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including sports, music and drama.

Miller said that this levy vote is passing by almost 10 percent more than the previous levy vote in 2008.

He thanked the teachers, students and volunteers who work hard to make Walla Walla schools excellent, as well as the committee that worked on the levy campaign.

“With the way the economy’s been, that’s just very gratifying,” he said.

Shauna Bogley, co-chair of the pro-levy campaign group Citizens for Schools said that the high number of yes votes has to do with the district’s decision to keep levy rates relatively constant.

“The school district was really smart, given the economic times. They really tried to keep the rate the same as the current levy and still maintain the quality of education,” she said.

Three other school levies also passed in Walla Walla County in the Dixie, Prescott and Waitsburg school districts.

A more in depth look at the levy and what it will fund can be found here.