Elizabeth School Board members are eagerly awaiting this year’s Election Day — and with good reason.

Since Aug. 21 at the its regularly scheduled meeting, the board decided to place a $1.2 million override measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. The board is asking Elizabeth voters to approve a 7.034 mill levy override to add funding to the Elizabeth C-1 School District.

Ballot initiative 3A will cost Elizabeth residents $4.67 per month per $100,000 of actual home value. But board members believe the benefits will out-weigh the costs.

Ballot initiative 3A is broken down into three areas. The majority of the money, 86 percent, will be used for retaining and attracting high-quality teachers, counselors and support staff. Ten percent will be used for providing students with the necessary curriculum and instruction needed for success in college and the workplace, and 4 percent will be used for technology upgrades to also promote student success.

Dan Hill is the school board secretary and he said with the school districts existing available salary for teachers, the district loses 30-40 teachers per year. He said because neighboring districts have better resources and higher salaries, it is hard for the district to keep teachers.

“We don’t try to compare ourselves to Douglas County or Cherry Creek districts because there is no comparison,” he said. “But when we compare our district to the smaller districts like Woodland Park, we are still below them.”

Hill said because the district loses so many teachers per year, it is losing the core of the experienced teachers. He said it is important for young, talented teachers to have mentors and be taught beyond the textbooks. Ballot initiative 3A will give administrators the resources to attract new teachers to the district by allowing for more comparable pay and also help retain teachers.

Hill said if 3A is passed, the schools’ technology also will be improved by allowing students to use up-to-date computers, better software and the latest textbook materials.

“We have to think competitively and we have to have the technology to benefit the kids,” he said.

The school board was sensitive to today’s economic situation and is making it clear to taxpayers what the goals are in the ballot initiative.

For more information on ballot initiative 3A, visit www.esdmlevy.org.