To the editor:

On Tuesday, March 15, I ask you to cast a “yes” vote in support of the Delaware City Schools levy.

This substitute levy replaces an emergency levy that expires later this year. This levy does not represent an increase in taxes. It will not raise costs for homeowners. It does, however, provide a critical 11 percent of the district’s budget.

The funds from this levy are used for day-to-operations like maintaining current staffing levels, transportation for the 3,000 students who rely on it daily, safety measures, basic utilities and extra- and co-curricular opportunities like Pacer athletic teams, the award-winning music program, and leadership and service opportunities like JROTC, mock trial and Key Club.

The fact is, the district will not be able to function without these funds. However, there is another reason the district is worthy of your “yes” vote:

This district takes its responsibility to its citizens and their hard-earned tax dollars seriously.

Before becoming involved with this effort, my experience with this school district was that of a Delaware parent and volunteer. While always appreciative of the excellent education my daughter received, I was unaware of the dogged efforts of this district to be as fiscally conservative as possible in its spending. I have been impressed with the bare-bones budgeting I have had the opportunity to learn more about. Like so many of us, teachers, staff and administrators are challenging themselves to do more with less without compromising quality.

The Delaware City Schools district spends substantially less per pupil than nearly every other district in the area and substantially less than the state average. The quality of this district’s educational programming is more meaningful when you consider our district has grown by 30 percent since the year 2000 without an equivalent increase in funding or support from the state.

I’m proud to live in a community that has always invested in its schools. I believe the facts, the record and the leaders of this district continue to be worthy of your trust and your “yes”vote. …

Gina M. Calcamuggio-Bosco

Levy chair

Delaware