Voters will have a chance to cast their ballots in a Feb. 9 special election on a pair of levies for the Tahoma School District.

First is the educational and operational programs levy, which accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s annual budget.

Passing it is critical, according to Erin Weaver, co-chair of the Tahoma VOTE committee, and it is just as critical to make sure people understand how important that levy is to the district.

Second on the ballot is a renewal of the technology levy which was originally passed by voters in 2006. It will raise $10 million through the end of this year to help pay for training, software and hardware for teachers, staff and students.

“The biggest challenge for that and the technology levy is to make people aware that it’s on the ballot, to fill out the ballot and pass it,” Weaver said. “For some reason we have a difficult time getting people to participate in elections.

“The biggest challenge is getting the community to really buy into the idea that, ‘This is important and I need to participate.’”

If both levies pass, collection of taxes would continue in 2011, according to information provided by the school district.

In 2011, the educational programs and operations levy rate would be $3.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a home, meaning a resident who owns a house worth $275,000 would pay $78 a month.

Neither levy creates new taxes and would simply continue collecting existing taxes, district officials explained, so that would be about the same as what homeowners living in the district pay now.

As for the technology levy, the rate would be 57 cents per $1,000, so that would be about $13 a month for someone who owns a home assessed at $275,000.

Didem Pierson, chair of the Tahoma School District Board of Directors, said, “our children deserve our support.”

“It is important to our board that the levies pass because without the funding we cannot maintain the level of support our community recognizes as necessary for our students to get a quality education,” Pierson said in an e-mail. “In terms of the technology levy, our staff has done a superior of job laying out a plan for the use of technology dollars. The tech plan supports the work in our curriculum and every purchase has been thought out carefully to ensure that we get the best value and the most added benefit to our students and staff.”

Pierson said that it is important for voters to know that these levies are up for renewal and are not new taxes.

“In order for our levies to pass we need to educate our community on school funding,” she said. “We want our voters to know that we need their support because we are not fully funded from the state. For example, currently under the state funding formula there is no money specifically designated for classroom technology. While we have very dedicated individuals teaching and supporting our children without the funding, those programs and initiatives that makes us successful cannot continue in the manner in which we are accustomed to.”

While the current economic climate has voters leery of approving such measures, Pierson is confident residents will continue to support the district, which it has done since 1978.

“I do have some concerns, however, I also believe that our community values our district’s commitment to giving our students’ a quality education and preparing them to be successful in the 21st century,” she said. “We have many people that volunteer their time in our schools because they believe in the importance of supporting our students. I think our community will step up and support our children.”

Renewing the technology funding is particularly vital.

Weaver said that without the technology tools in the classroom, things like the weekly newsletters that one of her daughter’s teachers sends out complete with photos, would not be possible.

“The technology levy doesn’t necessarily (just buy new equipment) … it’s much more about teaching kids how to access and use information using technology,” she said. “If our children can’t be effective communicators and use technology in a sophisticated way, then they’re going to come out at the bottom, and we want our kids to come out on top.”