New construction and new technology are just two things that will be added to Kanawha County Schools now that voters passed the excess levy. Voter overwhelmingly passed the excess levy by 60%.

One smart move at the polls leads to smarter technology and sharper kids in the future. The most noticeable will involve construction on West Side buildings and in other schools, as well as advances like adding smart boards to every classroom in the next two to three years. Money for those would have come out of the existing technology budget, but not after the levy passed at Tuesday elections. The new levy is expected to generate 44. 7 million dollars in the 2009 fiscal year. At a time when people everywhere are pinching pennies and budgeting for soaring higher gas prices, district leaders know voters could have said no, but instead said yes and put the children first.

Money from the excess levy will also cover supplemental pay and benefits for staff members among many other things. The levy makes up a quarter of the district's budget and has been around since 1937, with the current one would have expired at the end of June 2009.