There is a lot of buzz over the dramatic cuts the Kent School District is facing. I spend my work life and much of my free time working to make education better for all kids and want to ask everyone to consider this. What will you do? What will you do to make things better for our kids? They are our future. Study after study after study shows that where you have a school that has parent/community involvement you have improved student success.

What can you do? What do you want to do? What are you good at? Whatever the answer there is a place for you to help out in our schools. You can volunteer in all kinds of ways, in a school office, in a classroom, with a sports program (through the schools or Kent Parks). You can help the local PTO/PTA chapters. They are happy to have community members. You can mentor a student, you can talk to high school students about your career, offer an internship.

You can write a check to a PTA/PTO of your choices. They support all kinds of programs that have been cut. There are other organizations that support local students too —  Kent Community Foundation, Kent Youth and Family Services, Communities In Schools of Kent — just to name a few.

You can write your local/state representatives and tell them how important it is that they properly fund education. Attend school board meetings, take the time to voice your opinion.

Each and every one of us is needed by our children.  They need us to step up and step out and be a part of the solution to this funding crisis. This is not teachers versus administration. This is about each and every one of us taking steps to ensure a bright and positive future for our children; for all children. What will you do?

Dee Klem

Kent PTO President

Elementary Mentor Program Coordinator,

Communities In Schools of Kent, Kent Community Foundation Board Member