Category: BGPS Levy Series

I wrote this post to cast a hopeful vision for the kind of community I want Battle Ground to be—a place that still knows how to show up for its kids and for one another. Reflecting on our church’s move here and the sense of shared pride I saw right away, I explore why community doesn’t happen by accident and why supporting our local schools is part of loving our neighbors well. With the reality that 85–90% of children attend public schools, this post asks what kind of Christians—and what kind of town—we want to be known as: one defined by fear and withdrawal, or one marked by presence, generosity, and a shared commitment to the future.

I wrote this because I keep hearing that the solution to school funding problems is to “just cut administrators,” and that idea sounds reasonable until you actually look at the work they do. In this article, I explain why school administration is often invisible until it fails, how Battle Ground Public Schools already operates with fewer administrators doing more work, and why paying below the regional market makes it harder to attract and keep competent leadership. Using real data and a few everyday analogies, I make the case that cutting administrators doesn’t save money long-term—it shifts risk, increases burnout, and creates bigger, more expensive problems down the road.

I wrote this because there’s so much talk in Battle Ground about voting no on the school levy simply because taxes in Washington feel overwhelming—and that concern is valid. But what often gets missed is that repeated levy failures don’t keep costs down; they shift control away from the community. I explain how local control allows Battle Ground to keep levy rates lower than surrounding districts, why financial instability can lead to state oversight or even receivership, and how that can result in higher taxes set by someone else. This isn’t a scare tactic—it’s about understanding the long-term consequences of losing local voice, local choice, and local influence over schools that shape our community.

I’ve realized that most misinformation doesn’t reach us through bad actors—it reaches us through people we trust. Friends. Family. People who sound sincere and concerned. I’ve fallen for it myself. What I’ve learned is that strong emotions, repeated stories, and even Christian language can make something feel true without actually being true. Discernment isn’t about distrusting people; it’s about slowing down, asking better questions, and refusing to pass along claims we haven’t checked. In a moment when fear travels faster than facts, choosing to pause may be one of the most loving things we can do—for our neighbors and our community.

This post examines why delaying school funding during periods of inflation often costs communities more in the long run, even when waiting feels financially responsible. Using everyday examples and local context, I explain how rising operational costs, deferred maintenance, and the use of short-term reserves increase long-term pressure on school districts. Rather than framing the issue as political or partisan, I invite readers in Battle Ground to consider how timing itself is a form of stewardship—and how “now isn’t the right time” can quietly lead to higher costs, fewer options, and harder decisions later.

This post explores why supporting public schools does not require Christians to compromise their faith or values, and how loving your neighbor often means caring for the shared institutions where real families live. Drawing on biblical precedent from Scripture, local economic realities in Battle Ground, and the difference between stewardship and control, the article argues that faithful presence in imperfect systems is not endorsement but responsibility. Rather than withdrawing in fear or fighting culture wars, the post invites readers to consider how seeking the flourishing of their community—including its public schools—can be a practical, neighborly expression of Christian faith.

Battle Ground’s school levies haven’t failed by landslides—they’ve failed by inches. With three recent levy votes decided by razor-thin margins, this article looks at the often-overlooked middle voters who are shaping the future of Battle Ground Public Schools. Exploring inflation, rising taxes, community hesitation, and the real consequences of repeated levy failures, this piece invites readers to think clearly about what a “no” vote actually does—and who absorbs the cost when schools are underfunded. Pastoral, practical, and grounded in local data, this is a calm look at why the middle matters more than ever in Battle Ground’s upcoming school levy.

Let’s be honest: December is the month when America becomes a thriving black market of folklore....