SEATTLE COLLEGES Central-North-Sourh-SVI OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR DistrictVl 206.934.3872 Fax 206.934.3894 Voice Relay 800.833.6388 1500 Harvard Avenue, Seattle WA 98122-3803 I June 11, 2018 Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez Councilmember Rob Johnson Co-Chairs, Select Committee on Families, Education, Pre-School and Promise Levy We want to ?rst thank you for your leadership on the Families, Education, Pre?School and Promise Levy proposal. We are very appreciative of your interest in and support of the Seattle Promise Program as part of the package. You have listened carefully to testimonies about the value of the program to our city, been responsive to hearing the concerns raised about the need for universal eligibility and supported the expansion of levy dollars to include post-secondary education and training. For that we are truly grate?il. The latest proposal as discussed at the June 6 select committee hearing reduces the amount of funding for the Seattle Promise that will be included in the package by $3.1 million (approximately $443,000 per year) over the seven year term of the levy. While we are disappointed, we fully understand your need to present a levy package that addresses the myriad of educational needs in the city and balances many competing priorities. Your willingness to seek options to restore full funding for the program is admirable. We were, however, deeply concerned that one of the options being considered is to remove the Our Best Program funding from the levy package and fund it with temporary funding from the Sweetened Beverage Tax. We cannot support the removal of levy funding for a program that serves such a vulnerable population as men of color in our city. Therefore, the leadership team of the Seattle Colleges is committed to working with you and the Mayor?s of?ce to implement the second option discussed at the hearing the Seattle Colleges ?nancial contribution to the funding model. We believe that the colleges can work with private donors and advocates to contribute the $443,000 per year as needed to cover scholarships for students. It has always been our intent to engage with donors so that we could start and grow an endowment for the Seattle Promise Program. Our Vision is to have an endowment that would eventually produce enough revenue to replace city investment in the program. Many promise programs around the country are funded by such a mix of government funding, donors and endowment. We have already had signi?cant interest from our current foundation board members, prospective new donors and community partners. We pledge to contribute $443,000 in scholarship funding for the seven years of the levy and work collaboratively with city leaders to start the Seattle Promise Endowment. We hope to have your support for this solution. This is an important moment in our city?s history and we are honored to be in this work with you. Sincerely, ms; ouan niChancellor .. Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, President Designee South Seattle College Dr. Warren Brown President, No Seattle College ?ix? . ange, Presid nt, Sea le Central College cc: Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor, City of Seattle